Deposit waiver plan on LPG cylinders for BPL families yet to take off

25,527 applications for the cylinders are pending.

Mysore Karnataka: 30 06 2013: Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumers will roll out in Mysore district from Monday. PHOTO:M.A.SRIRAM;Mysore Karnataka: 30 06 2013: Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumers will roll out in Mysore district from Monday. PHOTO:M.A.SRIRAM - Mysore Karnataka: 30 06 2013: Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumers will roll out in Mysore district from Monday. PHOTO:M.A.SRIRAM

The scheme to provide deposit-free LPG cylinders to below the poverty line (BPL) cardholders who had no gas cylinders, and reduce kerosene dependency, has a hit a roadblock in Udupi district.

There are 1,41,800 persons without LPG connections in the district (as on May 1, 2015), which includes 28,284 Anna Antyodaya Yojana Cardholders, 89,126 BPL cardholders and 24,390 above the poverty line (APL) cardholders. The total demand for kerosene in the district is estimated at 5,13,769 litres for May.

Under their Corporate Social Responsibility, three oil companies – Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation – decided to provide deposit-free LPG cylinders to BPL cardholders in the district on a pilot basis from January 1 to March 31, 2015.

According to information provided by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies here, the pilot project received an enthusiastic response. As many as 37,999 applications were received from BPL cardholders in the district. The three oil companies provided deposit-free LPG cylinders to 12,472 BPL cardholders till March 31. This has left as many as 25,527 BPL cardholders without the cylinders.

The district administration, specially the Food and Supplies Department, pushed for the scheme as it would reduce kerosene dependency of the BPL families. “At any time, using LPG cylinders is much better than using kerosene. LPG is much more environment friendly than kerosene. Besides, it will also result in saving of kerosene,” said S. Yogishwar, Icharge Deputy Director of Food and Supplies.

Extension sought

Given the demand and the fact that more than 25,000 BPL cardholders had still not received LPG cylinders, the department wants the three oil companies to extend the scheme. “At least the oil companies should provide deposit free LPG cylinders to those who have applied for it,” Mr. Yogishwar said.

“We will take up the matter with the oil companies,” said Deputy Commissioner R. Vishal.

Dinakar Tonse, Territory Manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Mangaluru, said that the Union government had so far not extended the deposit-free LPG scheme to the present financial year (2015-16). As regards pending applications, the distributors had to follow all procedures and physically verify if the BPL cardholders did not have LPG cylinders with them.