Direct transfer of subsidy: LPG consumers face problems

Anupam Bhagria

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 28

Although the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has asked LPG consumers to join the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG Scheme for getting the subsidy, many LPG consumers have been facing problems in getting their Aadhar number linked with banks and with their respective LPG agencies.

Surinder Kumar, a consumer, said: “I have submitted the Aadhar documents to the bank authorities as also to the LPG agency. While the bank has the linkage to my Aadhar number, the LPG agency denies of having received the linkage. I am very confused as if I will get the subsidy or not.”

District Food and Civil Supplies Officer, Ludhiana, Sona Thind said: “Consumers may wait for some days. In case the problem persists, they may bring it to my notice, so I can take up their case with the higher authorities.”

“The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas relaunched this scheme on November 15 and provided three-month grace period to the LPG consumers, i.e. till February 15, 2015. During this period, they can get their Aadhar number linked with their LPG agency concerned or can get their bank account number linked with the LPG agency concerned. They will get cylinders at the subsidised price till February 14, 2015.”

She said in case any consumer failed to get his Aadhar linked to the LPG agency and the bank during this period, he or she would be given a “parking period” of next three months, i.e. up to May 14, 2015. However, for these three months (February 15 to May 14) they will have to pay the market price of LPG. The subsidy due will be credited to their account if they join the scheme till May 14, 2015.

The officer said: “In case a consumer fails to get his Aadhar number linked to the bank and gas agency even within the “parking period”, then the parked funds will lapse and the consumer will become ineligible to get the parked funds.”

She said it was not mandatory to get the Aadhar number linked under this scheme. She said: “Consumers having bank account numbers will be paid their subsidy. Such consumers will also receive subsidy in their bank account as per their entitlement of subsidised cylinders.”