Lok Sabha Question No. 3280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Beneficiaries under PMUY in West Bengal
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

3280.   Shri Raju Bista:

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3280 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20th March, 2025

## Beneficiaries under PMUY in West Bengal

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  beneficiaries  under  the  PM  Ujjwala  Yojana  (PMUY)  in  West  Bengal, district-wise;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  number  of  beneficiaries  in  Darjeeling  and  Kalimpong  districts  under  the Ujjwala scheme and the total subsidy provided to them;
- (c) whether there have been any recent changes in the cost of LPG refill and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the logistic challenges in delivery of LPG refills in hill areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plan to provide any concession to the distributors in hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts for ensuring home delivery, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  to  (e):  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana  (PMUY)  was  launched  in  May,  2016  with  an objective to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the country. The target to release 8 crore connections under PMUY was achieved in September 2019. To cover the remaining poor households, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in August 2021 with a target  to  release  1  crore  additional  PMUY  connections,  which  was  achieved  in  January  2022. Subsequently, the Government decided to release 60 lakh more LPG connections under Ujjwala 2.0  and  the  target  of  1.60  crore  Ujjwala  2.0  connections  was  also  achieved  during  December 2022.  Further,  Government  approved  release  of  additional  75  lakh  connections  under  PMUY Scheme for  the  period  FY  2023-24  to  2025-26  which  has  already  been  achieved  during  July

2024. As on 01.03.2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country including 1.23  crore  connections  in  the  state  of  West  Bengal.  District-wise  details  of  LPG  connections released in West Bengal under PMUY are at Annexure- A.

Since the launch of PMUY till financial year 2022-23, Government has borne an expenditure of up  to  Rs.  1,600  per  PMUY  connection  for  Security  Deposit  (SD)  of  Cylinder,  Pressure Regulator, Suraksha Hose, DGCC booklet and installation charges. From financial year 2023-24, this  expenditure  has  been  increased  to  Rs.  2,200  per  connection  for  14.2  Kg  Single  Bottle Connection/ 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection & Rs. 1,300 per connection for 5 Kg Single Bottle Connection.

To  make  LPG  more  affordable  to  PMUY  consumers  and  ensure  sustained  usage  of  LPG  by them, Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per annum (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) to the PMUY consumers in May 2022.  In  October  2023,  Government  increased  the  targeted  subsidy  to  Rs.300  per  14.2  kg cylinder  for  up  to  12  refills  per  annum  (and  proportionately  pro-rated  for  5  Kg  connections). After  a  targeted  subsidy  of  Rs.  300/cylinder  to  PMUY  consumers,  Government  of  India  is providing 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders at an effective price of Rs.503 per cylinder (in Delhi). This is available to more than 10.33 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries, across the country.

As per Para 9 (e) of LPG Control Order 2000, the State Government may fix additional charges for home delivery of LPG cylinders to the consumers, as it may deem necessary in view of the geographical  terrain  and  /or  the  distance  in  the  area  of  distribution.  Accordingly,  additional delivery charges have been determined for Darjeeling and Kalimpong by State Government of West Bengal.

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Annexure referred to in part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3280 to be answered on 20.03.2025 regarding " Beneficiaries under PMUY in West Bengal' asked by Shri Raju Bista.

District-wise details of connections released under PMUY Scheme in West Bengal As on 01.03.2025

| District          | Number of Connections   |
|-------------------|-------------------------|
| Alipurduar        | 2,96,085                |
| Bankura           | 6,60,691                |
| Birbhum           | 8,26,682                |
| Dakshin Dinajpur  | 3,40,579                |
| Darjeeling        | 1,25,827                |
| Howrah            | 2,65,138                |
| Hooghly           | 5,22,529                |
| Jalpaiguri        | 3,30,026                |
| Jhargram          | 2,23,068                |
| Kalimpong         | 12,310                  |
| Cooch Behar       | 5,57,557                |
| Kolkata           | 38,046                  |
| Malda             | 7,06,810                |
| Murshidabad       | 13,20,261               |
| Nadia             | 7,49,658                |
| North 24 Parganas | 9,35,847                |
| Paschim Bardhaman | 1,95,470                |
| Paschim Medinipur | 7,04,055                |
| PurbaBardhaman    | 7,35,092                |
| Purba Medinipur   | 7,52,749                |
| Purulia           | 4,47,991                |
| South 24 Parganas | 10,97,465               |
| Uttar Dinajpur    | 5,31,345                |

Source: IOCL on industry basis