New Delhi: As part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, a scheme for providing free of cost LPG refills to PMUY beneficiaries for the next three months with effect from April 1 was implemented as many as 13.57 crores LPG cylinders were refilled.

The Scheme has now been extended till September 30, 2020, for those beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying refills but are not able to buy the refills till June 30, 2020. the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in the Rajya Sabha informed on Monday. As on September 16, this year as many as 13.57 crore refills have been delivered to PMUY beneficiaries under this Scheme.

He went on, "The Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have informed that LPG cylinders purchased by them are manufactured in India and no imports are done. Further, Indigenous production of LPG is less than demand, hence OMCs import LPG to meet the deficit to maintain a smooth supply of LPG in the country. During April 2020 to June 2020, 44 % of the total demand of the country has been met through domestically produced LPG and balance 56 % has been met through import."

He also highlighted that "In order to protect the Domestic LPG consumers from volatility in the prices of LPG in the international market, the selling prices of domestic subsidized LPG are modulated by the government. Domestic LPG prices are revised every month in line with the international price of LPG with corresponding revision in monthly LPG subsidy under PAHAL Scheme. The applicable subsidy is transferred directly to the bank account of the beneficiary upon purchase of refill at non-subsidised price and subsidy burden is borne by the Government. Current Retail Selling Price of 14.2 Kg LPG refill at Delhi Market is Rs. 594."