Vying to become first state in the country to provide LPG gas connection to every household, the ambitious scheme of Himachal Pradesh government is finding more takers than the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government’s Ujjawala Yojna.
The government’s scheme ‘Grihani Suvidha Yojna’ had received over 1.50 lakh connections against the target of 30,000 LPG connections as proposed in scheme while the Centre government’s scheme had attracted over 70,000 persons.
Under the state government’s scheme that was launched in the budget by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, a gas cylinder, stove and regulator is provided free of cost.
“The government had sanctioned Rs 12 crore for providing 30,000 free LPG connections to eligible persons across the state, however, so far Food and Civil Supplies department had received 1.50 lakh applications,” Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary said.
Sharma told The Statesman that around 15,000 connections have been provided to the eligible households and if the budget allocation of Rs 12 crore is exhausted in present fiscal year, more would be allocated for the same.
“Himachal Pradesh government is vying to become first state in the country to have LPG connections for each household and funds won’t be a hurdle in completing the target,” he added.
The Centre government’s scheme is aimed at covering BPL, SC, ST households who doesn’t have access to LPG connections, while the state government’s scheme is aiming to cover left out families.
Officials said the state government’s scheme is attracting more consumers as the connections and cylinder is provided free of cost while Rs 1600 is charged from consumers under Ujjawala scheme.
With applications pouring in from all districts of the state, the district administration are writing to government to grant more gas connections in view of demands from the residents.
Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Lalit Jain said though LPG connections had been provided to some consumers, still 25 thousand more households need LPG connections. “For this, the district has demanded additional funds from the government to achieve the target of provided connections 100 percent households,” Jain added.
The authorities had asked Food and Civil Supply inspectors to visit all panchayats and identify beneficiaries who still need connections.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the ambitious scheme was launched with the objective of conserving environment and curtail felling of trees for the purpose of fuel wood. Further, the LPG is clean fuel and it would provide women relief from in-house pollution generated through traditional cooking methods that makes use of fuel wood.
Independent studies in the past had revealed the traditional methods were resulting in women contacting serious ailments as tuberculosis and asthma.