Question : Target of PMUY

(a) whether the Government has achieved the target to provide free gas connection to every BPL/poor household under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) since inception if so, the details thereof along with targets fixed and achieved in the country including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Vidarbha and Ahmednagar of Maharashtra including funds allocated/ utilised thereunder, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the large number of PMUY beneficiaries have not come back for refills in many States and the gap between consumption and customer growth for LPG in 2017 confirms that PMUY customers are not buying refills and connections under the scheme lay dormant/ non-functional post the first LPG cylinder since BPL families cannot afford the refills and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
(c) the number of eligible households still deprived of LPG due to incomplete papers and wrong data entry/other reasons in BPL lists including inclusion and exclusion errors as observed by various civil society members and the steps taken/being taken to rectify the data and provide connection to the intended consumers/ beneficiaries,
State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and Rajasthan;
(d) whether the Government has raised the target under PMUY to 8 crore LPG connections and cover all households by 2020 and if so, the details thereof along with funds allocated for the purpose including steps taken to improve the infrastructure of distribution system in rural areas under PMUY, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
(e) the refilling rate for LPG cylinders under PMUY in the country including Bihar along with the supply chain/refilling Station in the country, State/UT-wise;
(f) whether the LPG distributors have raised serious safety issues due to hasty attitude in the implementation of PMUY and if so, the details thereof along with safety parameters/steps taken in this regard; and
(g) the number of complaints/cases of irregularities in providing gas connection to BPL families under PMUY received by the Government/OMCs till date along with the remedial action taken/being taken to resolve the cases/complaints State/UT/ case-wise?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) The Government had launched “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” on 01.05.2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to 5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) with a budgetary provision of Rs. 8000 crore and the target has now been enhanced to 8 crore with additional budgetary provision of Rs. 4,800 crore.
During the year 2016-17 and 2017-18, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have released more than 3.45 crore LPG connections against the target of 3 crore. Till date, the Government has re-imbursed Rs. 4751 crore to OMCs on the account of release of LPG connections under the Scheme.
(b) Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have reported that nearly 80 % of PMUY beneficiaries in the first year of Scheme have come back for the second refill.
(c) & (d) While the target has been enhanced to 8 crore with additional budgetary provision of Rs. 4,800 crore, the list of prospective beneficiaries under PMUY has been expanded recently.
As on 01.02.2018, there are 19593 LPG distributors across the country. State/UT-wise details are at Annexure. With a view to strengthen the LPG distribution infrastructure, OMCs have recently advertised 6147 locations across the country, which are mostly in rural areas. The Government has also approved setting up of 115 Durgam Kshetriya Vitraks (DKVs) through different State Governments/Organisations, which are at various stages of commissioning.
(e) As per the refill consumption pattern of PMUY consumers who have completed one year from the date of release of connection, average per capita consumption is found to be around 4.32 cylinders (of 14.2 kg) which includes 4.66 cylinders (of 14.2 kg) in the State of Bihar. Major PMUY average refill consuming States are Haryana-6.67, Uttrakhand-5.66, Gujarat-5.36, Uttar Pradesh-4.85, Bihar-4.66, Punjab-4.57, Rajasthan-4.52, Puducherry-4.47, Manipur-4.40, Himachal Pradesh-4.39, Odisha-4.21, Kerala-4.13 etc.
As on 01.02.2018, there are 19593 LPG distributors in the country. State/UT-wise details are at Annexure.
(f) OMCs have given instructions to their LPG distributors to release LPG connections after satisfying and meeting all the safety norms for installation of LPG connections. Further, OMCs have reported that following measures are adopted for ensuring safety and for educating the prospective LPG customers under PMUY Scheme: -
(i) Proper education is given on safety aspects of LPG usage to the PMUY beneficiaries through safety clinics during the LPG connection distribution melas by way of how to use LPG by demonstration and screening film on safety.
(ii) While issuing LPG connections under PMUY scheme, safety instructions card is given to the beneficiaries.
(iii) All LPG distributors are under strict instructions to install connections at the premises of the PMUY beneficiaries and ensure that the Hotplate is kept at safe location and customer is advised about the safe way to use LPG.
(iv) OMCs’ Officers carry out regular customer contacts and distributorship inspections to monitor the above steps. During inspections, wherever it is found that the distributors are not adhering to the given instructions or non-compliance of given instructions, suitable action under MDG is taken against such defaulting distributors.
(v) Government has launched intensive ‘Safety Campaign’ through print and electronic media highlighting safety norms in usage of LPG.
(vi) LPG Panchayats are also organised to educate the LPG consumers about safety & sustained use of LPG.
(g) OMCs have reported that 91 cases of irregularities were established in providing gas connections to BPL households under PMUY till December, 2017 since inception of the Scheme. OMCs have taken punitive action under the prevailing Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) and the Distributorship Agreement against LPG distributors in all established cases of irregularities.