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New Delhi : In order to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households, the Government had launched “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana”(PMUY) scheme to provide 5 Crore deposit-free LPG connections, which were subsequently increased to 8 Crore. The target of Scheme was achieved in September, 2019. 

Implementation of PMUY has resulted in increase in national LPG coverage from 61.9 % as on April 1, 2016 to 99.5% as on January 1, 2021. As on January 1, 2021, total number of LPG consumers is 28.74 crore. Further, in budget announcement made on February 1, 2021, the Finance Minister announced to provide 1 crore more LPG connections under PMUY.

Further, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have commissioned 7,208 LPG distributorships from April 1, 2016 to January 1, 2021, to meet the increased demand of LPG consumers. As on January 1, 2021, there are 199 LPG bottling plants across the country. Generally, OMCs endeavour to make delivery of refill within 48 hours after the booking. The prices of petroleum products including LPG in the country are linked to the prices of respective products in the international market, according to a PIB release.

This information was given by the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on February 10, 2021.