OMCs targets 30 L new LPG connections in Odisha by 2018-end

Bhubaneswar, Sep 6 (PTI) To bring in more households underPradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), 30 lakh new LPGconnections would be given in Odisha by 2018-end, a seniorofficial of Indian Oil Corporation said today. In order to achieve the goal, oil marketing companieswould release 30 lakh new LPG connections under PMUY and tenlakh under normal release (Above Poverty Line category) byDecember 2018, Indian Oil Corporation’s Chief LPG Manager andState Nodal Officer G Swaminathan said here. It has been the vision of Union Petroleum MinisterDharmendra Pradhan that Odisha reaches a LPG penetration ofa minimum 70 per cent with a customer strength of more than 75lakhs by December, 2018, he said. Stating that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have alreadyreleased 2,01,344 new LPG connections under PMUY, Swaminathansaid they have processed over 3.47 lakh new connections underthe scheme for release. OMCs have implemented the PMUY programmes in all 314blocks of Odisha, he said adding, 320 programmes have beenorganised in these 314 blocks, apart from functions inmunicipalities and Notified Area Council (NAC) areas. The LPG penetration has increased to more than 40 per centfrom a paltry 26 per cent in the state, while the nationalaverage stood at 64 per cent. Since May 2014, OMCs have been able to release more than16 lakh LPG connections in the state. PTI SKN DKBABI