CM wants 8 lakh LPG connections allotted to AP

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the Centre to direct oil companies to allot  8 lakh LPG connections to Andhra Pradesh per year for distribution under Deepam scheme in the next three years so as to cover maximum number of BPL families.In a letter addressed to Union petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy, the chief minister said that the state government proposes to provide LPG connections  to maximum number of BPL families.The state government has provided 37.36 lakh LPG connections to BPL families so far since 1999.There are about 2 crore families out of whom only 1.47 crore families have LP gas connections.The state government has been providing LPG connections to BPL women to reduce dependence on forest for firewood, improve their health status and remove drudgery due to conventional cooking.Public sector oil companies release gas connections to the beneficiaries under Deepam Scheme. The state government has been paying security deposit to PSU oil companies on behalf of the beneficiaries.