Now Reading: Karnataka Ujjwala nil refills jump 107% in five years
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Karnataka Ujjwala nil refills jump 107% in five years
The number of 'nil refills' of LPG cylinders by Ujjwala beneficiaries in Karnataka rose 107% between 2021-22 and 2025-26, from 1.64 lakh to 3.40 lakh, according to Union government data tabled in…
The Story in Brief
The number of 'nil refills' of LPG cylinders by Ujjwala beneficiaries in Karnataka rose 107% between 2021-22 and 2025-26, from 1.64 lakh to 3.40 lakh, according to Union government data tabled in Rajya Sabha. In the same period, per capita consumption increased 21% to 5.49 cylinders per connection annually.
Congress MP Mansoor Ali Khan flagged the high zero-refill count, warning that households may return to firewood or biomass if refills remain unaffordable. While connections with three or more refills rose 30.5% to 32.66 lakh, those with just one or two refills declined. Sources cite LPG costs and possible diversion of cylinders among the urban poor.
The Indian Opinion
Headline numbers show progress, per capita refills up, single-refill households down, but the surge in zero-refill connections is a red flag. The Ujjwala scheme's success should be measured not by connections issued but by sustained usage. The government's reply cites price and fuel alternatives, but the question remains: are the poorest being priced out of clean cooking? A pilot of deeper subsidies in high-nil districts could settle the affordability debate.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
