The Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme, which created confusion among consumers when it was first launched last year, is now being re-launched.
It will be re-launched in 54 districts across the country, (including Mysuru and Tumkuru in Karnataka) on Saturday and in the rest of India on January 1 next year.
Speaking at a press meet here on Friday, Varadachari S., General Manager, Indian Oil, and State Level Coordinator for Oil Industry, said the difference between the first launch and the second launch is that earlier the Aadhaar number was mandatory to get the subsidy. Now, a bank account is adequate. However, he added that the end goal “is to energise UID (Aadhaar)”. Two, the earlier subsidy of Rs. 425 is now Rs. 568.
He said consumers should have a bank account to join the DBTL and get the subsidy. They will get a one-time permanent advance (equal to subsidy) in their bank account before buying the first market-priced LPG cylinder. During November 15 to February 14 2015, consumers (until they join the scheme), will get cylinders at the subsidised price.
For the next three months, they will get cylinders at market rates but will get the retrospective subsidy due to them if they join the scheme before May 14, 2015. After May 15, they will get LPG at market rate and will get subsidy from the date of joining the scheme.
Of Karnataka's six crore population, 1.1 crore have LPG cylinders. Of them, 85 lakh are part of the DBTL scheme and 15 lakh are yet to be covered. Bengaluru urban constitutes 70 per cent of the State's LPG consumers and 30 per cent of them are part of DBTL.
Mysuru and Tumkuru, both part of the pilot project since June last year, have 8.33 lakh LPG consumers (7.5 lakh are part of DBT at present). In the first phase, 95 per cent were covered in 2010. Five districts (Hassan, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Raichur and Yadgir) were not initially part of DBTL. By January 1, all 30 districts will be covered.
