The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation has clarified that BPL (below poverty line) consumers who had received free gas connections can also be treated on a par with regular LPG consumers.
In a recent order, it said that such consumers could also avail of 12 refills a year. So far the number of refills was restricted to six. In the State, there are a total of 28 lakh BPL consumers.
Under the Pahal scheme, which was launched on January 1, gas subsidy is transferred directly to the consumers’ bank accounts. Many BPL consumers had doubts if they were eligible for the Pahal scheme and if they would get the subsidy amount in their accounts. This order alleys their doubts and clarifies that those wanting a second cylinder can avail of the facility by paying the required additional deposit at their respective gas agencies.
Similarly, BPL consumers requiring name transfer within the family or corrections in the spelling of the name can do so. If the person in whose name the BPL connection is no longer alive, the connection can be transferred to their legal heir if they do not posses any LPG connection. If a BPL beneficiary is surrendering the connection, the oil companies must transfer the deposit to the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. In case of surrender the rubber tube and stove need not be returned, says a release from Indian Oil Corporation, which was also given a copy of the order.