By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 17: Meghalaya, which has one of the lowest LPG penetration rates in the country and remains below the national average, is aiming to significantly improve household coverage through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 3.0.
The state government has set a goal to cover around one lakh households, which are still outside the LPG network, during the current PMUY campaign.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Principal Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Department, Pravin Bakshi, said LPG coverage in Meghalaya currently stands at about 73.5 per cent, leaving considerable scope for expansion. He noted that nearly two lakh additional households could potentially be covered, making PMUY 3.0 a major opportunity for the state.
Bakshi said the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited have jointly undertaken an outreach to identify and enrol households that are still left out.
The central government has approved 25 lakh LPG connections nationwide under PMUY 3.0. The beneficiaries will receive free LPG connections, including an LPG stove and the first refill at no cost.
Bakshi said the application process has been made simple and hassle-free, with no requirement for caste certificates such as SC or ST but biometric Aadhaar authentication is mandatory to ensure rightful targeting and transparency. Special provisions have been made to enable migrant workers and migrant households to apply for LPG connections.
Bakshi recalled that during earlier phases of PMUY, over one lakh connections were released in the state within a short span, with the IOCL earning accolades for the same. He expressed confidence that similar results could be achieved under PMUY 3.0.
Providing operational details, Chief General Manager (LPG), IOCL AOD State Office, Amarjyoti Bordoloi said Meghalaya has around 7.5 lakh households, of which 6.11 lakh are registered LPG consumers. However, only 5.23 lakh are active users, indicating that while LPG penetration is close to 80 per cent, active usage remains at around 69 per cent.
Bordoloi stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas where the use of firewood and coal remains common. He pointed out that since the launch of PMUY in May 2016, over 10.33 crore LPG connections have been released across the country, of which 3.28 lakh connections are in Meghalaya.
He said that as PMUY 3.0 is capped at 25 lakh connections nationally, with no state-wise quota, delays in applications could result in other states exhausting the available connections. He urged the media to continuously publicise the scheme to ensure eligible households apply on time.
Clarifying why Meghalaya ranks low in LPG coverage, Food and Civil Supplies Department Director Saloni Verma said the state’s small population, difficult terrain and scattered habitation pose unique challenges. She noted that Meghalaya has around 4,700 villages, far more dispersed than comparable states like Manipur and Tripura, making outreach and last-mile delivery more difficult.
Verma said the lack of awareness and limited demand in certain areas have also affected coverage. Despite these challenges, she pointed out that LPG connections have reached over 5.24 lakh households, and when buffer figures are included, coverage is close to 80 per cent.
“We should not focus on why we are the lowest. We have legacy issues. The gap is about one lakh households, and this can be covered under PMUY 3.0,” she said, adding that hesitancy toward new schemes is common and reflects the need for better awareness rather than resistance from households.
Emphasising the health benefits of LPG, both state officials and IOCL representatives highlighted that indoor air pollution from firewood and charcoal disproportionately affects women and children, leading to respiratory illnesses. LPG, they said, is one of the safest and cleanest cooking fuels, offering controlled flames, faster cooking, and significant health advantages.
Officials reiterated that PMUY connections are being provided free of cost, with the primary objective of encouraging households to adopt clean cooking fuel and experience long-term health and quality-of-life benefits.
