SHILLONG: State-sponsored Meghalaya State Co-Operative Marketing & Consumer Federation Ltd has maintained it has provided LPG connections to BPL families in and around the city in accordance with the guidelines of the authorities.
Clarifying on the news item about BJP members stopping distribution of LPG cylinders by the federation at Nongrah at Rs 2,015 each last Saturday, MECOFED managing director, AL Mawlong, in a press statement, said the report has created confusion among the public in general and BPL families in particular.
The BJP had asserted that the cylinders were to be distributed free of cost or at a minimal, affordable and subsidised rate for the poor under Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY) initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Mawlong however pointed out that for each connection, one stove at Rs 990, one refill at Rs 820 and one lighter (optional) at Rs 205 is provided, the total of which comes to Rs 2, 015.
As for the security deposit, pipe, card, A/charge, the rates are Rs 1, 350, 100, Rs 25 and Rs 75 respectively, which comes to a total of Rs 1,550. “For stove and refill, the beneficiary may be given on loan provided that the same is adjusted from the subsidy against taking delivery of each refill as applicable,” Mawlong said.
She said the officials of MECOFED Gas Agency at Lumdiengjri, Garikhana are available for help or for providing necessary information during any working day. The central government had launched a scheme here on July 19 for extending LPG connections to BPL families at a subsidised rate under PMUY.
