Over 30 million LPG connections released in 2016-17
LPG consumption increases by 10% during the year
The government provided 32.6 million LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme since the launch of the scheme in May 2016. About two-third of these connections were given to poor families, as part of the government’s drive to shut hazardous smoke from the kitchens of those who had not yet had access to clean cooking fuel.
The number of gas connections added in 2016-17 is 78.5 per cent higher than that added in the preceding year (17.7 million connections).
When BJP government came into power in May 2014, the number of active LPG consumers stood at 140 million. It has now expanded to 198 million.
Government targets to add 100 million connections between April 2016-March 2019. Of this, over 30 per cent is already achieved.
Government-owned oil marketing companies, namely, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, have been rapidly rolling out the government’s plan to take clean fuel to more and more households, especially in the traditionally-disadvantaged eastern states. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha are some of the states with least access to cooking gas. With just 30-40 per cent cooking gas coverage, these states are far behind Delhi, Punjab, Kerala and Goa, which have above 100 per cent coverage.
The rapid growth in connections has also led to a strong increase in the consumption of LPG. During 2014-17, LPG consumption grew at a CAGR of around 10 per cent.
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