Subsidised LPG for BPL card holders next month

Below poverty line (BPL) card holders across the country will soon be eligible to get new LPG connections at a highly subsidised rate, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said here on Saturday.

The scheme will be launched next month and can be availed up to March. “We will soon launch a pilot project to provide new LPG connections to the BPL card holders in all the states at a subsidised rate. People can benefit from the scheme till March next year,” Pradhan said.

He said the number of LPG consumers stood much below the national average in some states. The new scheme would help in bridging the gap.

Pradhan criticised states which had increased VAT on diesel and petrol after the Union government reduced the rate of these products following repeated falls in oil prices at the international market.

“It is the prerogative of the states to decide on the tax rate. But I would certainly appeal to them not to go for VAT increase as it would not only affect the common people but may also adversely impact their tax collection. The consumers in bordering areas would prefer to purchase petrol and diesel from neighbouring states instead of their own state,” he explained.