Andhra cabinet approved three free LPG cylinders per year scheme - one of its six promises - which will come into force on 31 October.
Published Oct 23, 2024 | 10:25 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2024 | 10:42 AM
Andhra Pradesh cabinet clears free LPG cylinders scheme (X)
The Andhra Pradesh state cabinet on Wednesday, 23 October, redeemed one of its important Super Six promises. It cleared the three free LPG cylinders in a one-year scheme to eligible beneficiaries, which will come into force from Deepavali on 31 October.
Under the scheme, each eligible family would get the entire cost of the cylinder credited into their bank accounts within 48 hours of purchasing the cylinder.
Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar, briefing media persons on the Free LPG cylinder scheme cleared by the cabinet, said that booking for free cylinders will begin three days before Deepavali.
The state government will bear a burden of ₹.2,684 crore for the implementation of the scheme. ₹894.92, price per cylinder would be credited to consumers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
It will be available in three specific periods in a year – From April to July, August to November and December to March. In these periods, the government would fully reimburse the cost of one LPG cylinder each to the eligible beneficiary.
Though the state is hard up for cash, Chandrababu Naidu implemented it as it was one of the Super Six promises made to housewives in the state.
There will be a grievance redressal system set up at all village and ward secretariat offices for anyone who experiences difficulty in receiving the subsidy amount into their bank accounts.
The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the state secretariat at Velagapudi near Vijayawada, also cleared a proposal to waive seigniorage and other charges in force on sand.
Mines Geology and Excise minister Kollu Ravindra, briefing media persons, said that the TDP led NDA government, with the intention to help common citizens and spur construction activity, had unveiled free sand policy after coming to power.
The government used to charge only seigniorage and loading charges at the stock points. As there have been ample rains since June, there was a problem mining sand from Krishna and Godavari river beds.
To prevent occurrence of such problems the government had given permission for sand mining in 108 more sand reaches. This would lead to an increase in the supply of sand.
Until now, about ₹100 is being paid per tonne towards seigniorage and two other charges, which the government has nullified. People can go to river banks and take whatever quantity of sand they need using bullock carts and tractors.
There will however be a constant vigil to prevent of sand being smuggled across state borders, Ravindra said. All the vehicles that transport sand would have GPS trackers to help authorities in providing medical help in case of accidents and also to prevent smuggling across the borders.
If anyone is found to be smuggling sand, they would be booked under the Preventive Detention Act.
The cabinet cleared another proposal for representation of Brahmins and Nayee Brahmins in the trust boards of temples. A bill, amending the Endowment Act, 1987, would be introduced in the Assembly at its next session. The measure is intended to improve spirituality in all the temples under the Endowments Departments. This was one of the promises made before the Assembly elections.
The cabinet approved another proposal to do away with the reverse tendering method which the previous YSRCP government had brought through an Act. In its place, the state cabinet brought in a new system which follows central vigilance commission guidelines while approving tenders, according to Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathi.
Approving the cancellation of allotment of 15 acres of land to Sri Sarada Peetham in Pendurthi in Visakhapatnam district, the cabinet noted that the land which is valued at ₹225 crore was allotted at a throw away price of ₹15 lakh per acre.
Other decisions taken during the meeting included increase in the number of seats in BSC course in government nursing college in Visakhapatnam from 25 to 100, approval for upgrading the 100-bed area hospital in Mangalagiri and creation of 73 additional posts under the directorate of secondary health with an investment of ₹52 crore.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
