Post-Pahal, sale of LPG cylinders soars

May 28, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 09:27 am IST - CHENNAI:

Drastic rise:Officials said 3.80 lakh cylinders are being supplied a month as opposed to 3.30 lakh earlier —Photo: K. Pichumani

Drastic rise:Officials said 3.80 lakh cylinders are being supplied a month as opposed to 3.30 lakh earlier —Photo: K. Pichumani

With lakhs of consumers switching over to the Pahal scheme, the sale of commercial LPG cylinders has gone up by 15 per cent in the past few months. In Chennai region, 3.80 lakh cylinders are being supplied a month, against 3.30 lakh cylinders, oil industry sources say.

Under Pahal, the subsidy amount is being directly sent to bank accounts of LPG consumers. “Earlier, a lot of diversion of cylinders was happening in the supply chain. Cylinders were being sold at Rs. 800- 900. But now that cannot be done as the consumer is aware and demands the subsidy amount. So, there is a corresponding increase in the usage of commercial 19 kilogram cylinders that cost Rs. 1,320. Such cylinders are available over the counter as is the case with domestic connections,” the source explains.

However, there has not been any increase in the sale of 5 kg cylinders. Each month, around 3,500 cylinders are being lifted mostly by small vendors and families that utilise very limited quantities of LPG.

Of the 1.54 crore customers in the State, only 16 lakh are yet to join Pahal. “Many are in the process of joining but there have been hitches. Some numbers have been rejected and for a few more, the subsidy amount has been sent to accounts of other persons by mistake. Consumers have time till June end to enrol. Oil companies should ensure that the process is smooth,” said consumer activist T. Sadagopan.

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