LPG programme launched on April 1
While a total of 4,121 persons have intimated to give up subsidy on IOC's Indane LPG in the country, 1,691 have volunteered to forgo subsidy for Bharat Gas by BPCL and 1,322 for HP Gas by HPCL. (Photo: DC/File)
KOCHI: The attempt by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to encourage high-income individuals to voluntarily give up the subsidy component on LPG cylinders, launched on April 1, has not evoked the desired response across the country so far with not many coming forward to join the bandwagon.
While a total of 4,121 persons have intimated to give up subsidy on IOC’s Indane LPG in the country, 1,691 have volunteered to forgo subsidy for Bharat Gas by BPCL and 1,322 for HP Gas by HPCL.
Interestingly, 453 customers of Indane in this category belonged to Kerala and even IAS and IPS officers are slowly coming forward to join the scheme with the oil major IOC writing to them personally in August. IOC has 50 percent share in the domestic LPG market in the state as well as in the country.
Of the total 17 crore LPG connections across the country, IOC has 8.3 crore connections while BPCL and HPCL have 4.2 crore and 4.7 crore connections respectively. In Kerala, IOC’s share is 44 lakh connections while BPCL has 24 lakh and HPCL 14.3 lakh.
To encourage the top executives of companies, businessmen and officers, the senior IOC officials themselves have given up their subsidy component on LPG.
“Those who can afford a car worth over Rs 15 lakh and flats worth Rs 50 lakh can easily forgo this small amount which comes to '4,000 per annum. That money will go into nation-building. We intend this as a voluntary action from responsible citizens and not a forced measure,” said a senior IOC official. “Kerala should set an example in this regard for the nation,” he added.
( Source : dc )
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