Odisha plea to Centre for free LPG cylinders
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday requested the Centre to provide LPG cylinders to the cyclone and flood affected people of three southern districts free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).The State’s request came a week after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directed oil marketing companies (OMCs) to distribute LPG cylinders to PMUY beneficiaries of Gajapati, Ganjam and Rayagada districts at subsidised rate.
In a letter to Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro said cyclone Titli and subsequent floods in the three districts have severely impacted the financial condition of people who need immediate support for speedy recovery.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is trying his best to assist the poor people starting from providing gratuitous relief, houses to crop damage compensation. “Since the Petroleum Ministry is providing LPG cylinders to PMUY beneficiaries at subsidised rates, I request you to waive off the cost of domestic LPG cylinders and supply the same free of cost which will help in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor in the three districts,” the letter said.
Replying to Patro’s letter, Pradhan said the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry and OMCs have taken immediate steps for LPG consumers in cyclone and flood-affected Gajapati, Rayagada and Ganjam districts. The OMCs have already announced assistance for the affected people on October 14. BPL families who have lost their cylinders in the cyclone and floods will get the same by paying `200. Similarly, APL families who have lost cylinders will get it by paying `1200, he said.
While the worst affected Gajapati district has 50,990 PMUY beneficiaries, the number of connection given under the Central scheme in Ganjam is 2,39,683 and 81,979 in Rayagada.The OMCs have been asked to organise special camps in interior pockets to assist the people.