Petroleum ministry targets 10 mn LPG customers to give up subsidy in a year

The saved subsidy amount is expected to be about Rs 3,000 crore in a year

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday urged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers to give up their LPG subsidy and join the ‘GiveItUP’ movement. The ambitious programme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen 290,000 consumers give up their subsidy till now.

“When the subsidy is given up, the money so saved will be used for the upliftment of the poor in the country which will be the reason for joy and satisfaction and go a long way in replacing traditional fuel with LPG in rural areas,” Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of state, independent charge, ministry of petroleum and natural gas said.

The campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 27 at the annual energy-focussed summit Urja Sangam 2015, is aimed at encouraging people, who can afford to, to give up liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy. The prime minister asked companies and banks to encourage their employees to give up the subsidy on LPG.

Speaking at a function to promote the new programme, he appealed to LPG consumers, who can afford, to voluntarily come forward and give up their LPG subsidy and contribute to nation building. Till date in Karnataka around 20,000 customers have given up their LPG subsidy and at today's function some 70 eminent persons from all walks of life including film industry, IT industry and sportsmen among others joined the scheme.

The 'GiveItUP' initiative has received overwhelming response from the LPG customers across the country, Pradhan said.

Explaining in detail the various advantages of 'GiveItUP' scheme he also announced that on giving up the LPG subsidy, the customer's name will be added to the scroll of honor on the relevant Oil Company's website with their prior permission, as recognition to their contribution.

The campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 27 at the annual energy-focussed summit Urja Sangam 2015, is aimed at encouraging people, who can afford to, to give up liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy. The prime minister asked companies and banks to encourage their employees to give up the subsidy on LPG.

The ministry is targeting 10 million subscribers to join the scheme in one year, Pradhan said and added that the subsidy amount so saved would be in the order of Rs 3,000 crore.

Pradhan also announced that he would soon lay the foundation for piped natural gas project in Bengaluru city. The contract for the project was being finalised, he said.