By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 22, 2018: The Odisha government on Monday urged the Centre to supply cooking gas cylinders free-of-cost to those affected by cyclone Titli and the consequent floods.

In a letter to union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan, state minister for food supplies and consumer welfare Surya Narayan Patro sought domestic LPG cylinders under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in Gajapati, Ganjam and Rayagada districts, which were worst-hit by the natural calamities.

50,990 subsidised gas connections under PMUY are provided in Gajapati district, 2,39, 683 in Ganjam and 81,979 in Rayagada, said Patro.

“At present, these people are the worst sufferers and unable to pay the subsidised rate fixed by your department. In view of the above, I would request you to waive the subsidised cost of the domestic LPG cylinders and supply the same free-of-cost, which will help in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor beneficiaries,” Patro said in the letter.