Dakshina Kannada to be smoke-free district within a month: Nalin Kumar Kateel

Bantwal, Jan 26: Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has said that the coastal district will be made smoke-free within a month.

He was speaking at the mass convention of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries and distribution of cooking gas connections to beneficiaries under the Extended Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (EPMUY) – II at BC Road.

Hhe said all below poverty line (BPL) families who have not been covered under the Phase I of PMUY will be provided with gas connections now.

Mr. Kateel said that Harish Poonja, MLA, Belthangady, has promised that Belthangady taluk will be made smoke-free within 10 days. All other MLAs are committed to ensure that all remaining BPL families in their constituencies are provided with gas connections within a month.

Ramesh Jigajinagi, Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation, handed over cooking gas connections symbolically to 34 beneficiaries under EPMUY– II on the occasion. The Minister said that the yojana has removed smoke from the kitchens of the poor households in the country by providing them accessibility to clean cooking fuel of liquefied petroleum gas and making it one of the largest social inclusion.

Pralhad V. Joshi, MP and chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the PMUY is aimed at making the country smoke-free.

Thangavel S., Regional LPG Manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. spoke. Amba Bhavani, zonal head, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., K. Shailendra, Chief General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., were present.