Engineers weld carbon steel pipes as part of a gas pipeline. (NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)For the poor families that have already benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana that provides them with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at a subsidised rate, there is more good news in store. The Gujarat Government now plans to provide them with piped natural gas (PNG) to those located in the pipeline network areas.
The Hindu Business Line reported that Gujarat has launched PNG Sahay Yojana for this and will extend a Rs 1,600 subsidy for each connection. Families that will stand to benefit will be given the facility of paying Rs 5,000 deposit in 100 equated monthly installments of Rs 50 each. The beneficiaries will not be billed for the gas they use as the State government will directly pay to the gas distributor.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had announced the scheme on the State formation day observed on 1 May and said it will lower the fuel cost significantly. The daily said the scheme has been launched in Bharuch, while a total launch of the scheme will begin in a week’s time.
Eight municipal corporation and 24 district headquarters will be covered under the scheme in phases. Gas distributors - Gujarat Gas and Adani Gas - have given their consent to take part in the scheme helping Gujarat to take piped gas to rural areas. The scheme is expected to complement the Central government’s Ujjwala scheme.
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