Delhi Govt to give away free LPG on Holi, Diwali
All ration card holders in the Capital will get a free LPG cylinder each on Holi and Diwali, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday. The announcement followed the Delhi Cabinet's decision to approve a proposal for transferring ?853-the cost of an LPG cylinder-directly to eligible beneficiaries via direct benefit transfer. The move fulfils a key electoral promise made by BJP during the Delhi Assembly elections. Its manifesto pledged one free cylinder on holi and Diwali festivals, plus a Rs 500 subsidised one for poor households.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, the chief minister said: "The Delhi government will provide free gas cylinders to the poor during Holi and Diwali. The cabinet has approved Rs 242 crore fund for this proposal."
She further said that the ration card holders will receive cylinder subsidy of Rs 853 via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) from Holi. Besides, those using piped natural gas (PNG) connections will receive Rs 853 via DBT.
At present, the price of an LPG cylinder in Delhi is Rs 853 per cylinder. Beneficiaries covered under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will receive financial assistance of Rs 553 per cylinder, after adjustment of the Rs 300 per cylinder subsidy provided by the Government of India, while non-Ujjwala ration card-holding families will be provided assistance of Rs 853 per cylinder. The estimated annual expenditure on this scheme will be approximately Rs 242.77 crore, which will be adjusted in accordance with changes in LPG prices, Government of India subsidies, and the number of beneficiaries.
