Union Petroleum Minister terms Naveen’s statement on PMUY ‘Misleading’

Bhubaneswar, Dec 29: Union Petroluem Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Friday described the recent statement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUL) as an ‘unsuccessful scheme’ as ‘misleading’ and devoid of facts’.

            In a letter Pradhan said, “Your statement appears to be devoid of facts and misleading.”

            He said the PMUY is a flagship programme of the Union Government intended at providing access to clean cooking LPG to poor households.

He said everybody know the irreparable damage that conventional fuel sources like firewood, cow dung, coal etc. causes to the health of women and children.

“Access to clean LPG has freed poor households from indoor pollution that causes respiratory and lung diseases, Poor women of Odisha have been relieved from the drudgery of collecting firewood,” he said.

The Union Minister claimed that more than 35 lakh connections have been given under PMUY so far in Odish and has played a critical role in significantly enhancing the total number of LPG consumers from 19 lakhs in May 2014 to 72.5 lakhs in 2018 in the state of Odisha.

“The LPG coverage in Odisha has also been expanded from 22 % in 2014 to 69 % in 2018.1 am confident that with the recent decision of the Government of India to expand the scope of PMUY to achieve the universal coverage, the state of Odisha would soon achieve LPG coverage over 90per cent,” he asserted.

Pradhan said, in so far as the issue of purchase of refill by the beneficiaries, the fact that adoption and sustained use of LPG is organically linked to behavioural change, cooking habits, economic status of the family, etc.

“In this background it is heartening to see that in Odisha, PMUY beneficiaries have consumed nearly 1.2 crore refills and per capita consumption is nearly 3.7 refills, which is in consonance with the national average consumption oy mmuy beneficiaries,” he said.

Further, about 4.2 lakhs consumers have taken 4 or more refills, the Union Minister said adding, this clearly indicates a marked behavioural change amongst the common man in Odisha to make a transition towards clean and sustainable source of energy.

“Society has acknowledged the relevance of the PMUY on account of its health benefits, environment dividends, time saved and utilized for gainful economic activities leading to empowerment of women,” he added.

The Union Government is bearing subsidy on LPG   refills   to   protect   the   consumers  from   price   volatility and the subsidy is transferred directly into the bank account of the beneficiaries through the DBTL (PAHAL) eliminating leakages in subsidy transfer and role of the middleman, he said.

Pradhan said currently in Odisha the subsidy per cylinder is Rs.326.22 which fully protects the consumers from any price increase.

“Further, to ensure easy access to refills and to address the affordability issue, the Oil Marketing Companies have tied up with Common Service Centres (CSCs) and are also encouraging PMUY households to take 5 kg refill, the Union Minister said.

“The above stated facts establishes the success of PMUY in the State and proves your statement vastly misleading that seems to be aimed at gaining undeserving attention and to divert common men concerns from your government’s failure to address the burning issues affecting the poor, he added.

Pradhan said the above stated facts shall assuage any concerns and the State Government extend wholehearted support in expanding the gas infrastructure to cater to the increasing demand of LPG in the state such as allotment of land for Khurda LPG bottling plant.

“Improved infrastructure will help making the State smoke free and providing LPG ccnnections to all households,” he concluded.