Dharmendra Pradhan to launch LPG scheme for BPL households in West Bengal

To meet additional demand, the three oil marketing companies - IOC, BPCL and HPCL would invest around Rs 540 crore

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would launch Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in West Bengal on August 14, targeting 1.06 crore BPL households of the state.

West Bengal, where LPG penetration is lower than national average at 52%, would be the next destination for the launch of PMUY scheme covering all 20 districts, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) general manager R K Mahapatra said.

Announced in the Budget for 2016-17, PMUY scheme entailed providing free connection to women of BPL households based on Socio Economic Caste Census data of 2011.

The government had earmarked Rs 8,000 crore for its rollout across the country.

To meet additional demand for LPG refill post the roll out of PMUY in the state, the three oil marketing companies - IOC, BPCL and HPCL would invest around Rs 540 crore in adding to the bottling capacity, he told reporters.

The three companies would add 490 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) per annum to the existing 990 TMT to meet the additional demand, he added.