Karnataka's free LPG scheme for BPL families by July 10

Bengaluru, Jun 17: The chief minister’s ‘Anila Bhagya’ scheme of providing free LPG connections to BPL families will be in place by July 10, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Khader said BPL card holders who have not been selected for the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwal Yojana (PMUY) will be eligible for the state scheme.

Under the scheme, BPL card holders will be provided a free LPG cylinder, regulator, tube and stove. Each connection will cost the government Rs 1,920 which will be provided directly to the oil marketing companies, Khader said.

Those who want to apply for the scheme will have to approach their jurisdictional gram panchayats, the minister said. The government has earmarked Rs 600 crore for the scheme, he said. Option will be given to ration card holders in rural areas with gas connection to choose either kerosene or free re-chargeable LED sets, he added.

He said some technical glitches in processing applications for issue of new BPL cards had been sorted out. The cards will be despatched to the applicants by Speed Post soon, he said.

Khader said a circular that barred renewal of licence to fair price shops if the owner has crossed 65 years has been withdrawn.