The push for clean energy through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has led to a record 40.7 million new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections being added in the current fiscal year (2018-19, or FY19). This is a jump of 45 per cent over 2017-18 (FY18).
The three oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) — have together set a target of adding 42.5 million customers by the end of March 31.
The rising number of Ujjwala customers is, however, increasing the government’s subsidy burden. The LPG subsidy during the first nine months of the current fiscal year has already crossed the last year’s mark by 23 per cent.
