Subsequent to the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme, LPG penetration in Karnataka has increased from 68.49 per cent in June 2014 to 96.75 per cent in December 2018.

“The number of LPG customers stood at 95.83 lakh as on June 1, 2014. It stood at 143.20 lakh as on December 1, 2018, which is an increase of 47.87 lakh in the last four years. Under the PMUY, 18.03 lakh connections have been released in Karnataka up to November 2018. Of this, Indian Oil Corporation accounted for 8 lakh connections, Bharat Petroleum Corporation 4.58 lakh and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation 5.4 lakh,” said D. L. Pramodh, Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation, and state-level co-ordinator for the oil industry in Karnataka.

According to Census 2011, Karnataka had 133.55 lakh households and as per decadal growth, the number of households would be 48.01 lakh currently. Of these, the number of active customers would be 143.2 lakh, accounting for 96.75 per cent LPG coverage in the state.

To expand LPG coverage further, the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was launched during June to August 2018, wherein LPG Panachayats were conducted throughout the state.

“A total of 1,440 villages in Karnataka were identified as having low LPG penetration. We are targeting them by initially releasing 2 lakh connections to the eligible beneficiaries,” said Pramodh.

The Extended Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana-2 (EPMUY) scheme has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). In this scheme, BPL households not covered under the SECC data and EPMUY would be facilitated to avail of the PMUY LPG connection. “This scheme will lead to near 100 per cent LPG penetration in Karnataka, by releasing LPG connections to the poor adult women in rural households,” explained Pramodh.

Another one crore LPG connection are expected to be released across the country during the period January to April 2019.