The State government, at the instance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has decided to give three additional LPG cylinders to those enrolled under Deepam Scheme.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, Civil Supplies Minister D. Sridhar Babu said that some 40 lakh families were having LPG connections under the Deepam Scheme. Apart from six LPG cylinders per year as announced by the Union government, those under Deepam scheme will get three additional cylinders, he said, adding that on account of this, the State government would bear an additional Rs 634 crores per year.
Stating that the existing subsidy of Rs 25 on one gas cylinder would continue as usual, Sridhar Babu said that while on an average 5.5 cylinders were being used by the consumers in the country, the consumers in the State were utilizing 5.52 cylinders on an average.
The minister said the consumers in Shamirpet and Kompally villages under Greater Hyderabad limits were getting gas supply through pipeline. Stating that a drive has been launched to detect bogus gas connections, he said that such dishonest consumers will be dealt with iron hand. He also disclosed that the government was thinking of releasing more gas connections under Deepam scheme. (NSS)