Aadhaar-LPG gas subsidy delinked

From March 10, LPG consumers across the State will pay the subsidised cost price of Rs. 441 per cylinder

Great news on the gas-Aadhaar front. From March 10 onwards, domestic LPG consumers across the State will pay just the subsidised cost price of Rs. 441 per cylinder without depending on the Aadhaar card link up to the bank accounts for reimbursement of the remaining amount.

Clear directives

Clear directives de-linking the gas subsidy from Aadhaar card and bank accounts have reached the gas authorities here and distributors are being asked to start implementing the Aadhaar-less LPG scheme from Monday next onwards.

Those who have already booked for a cylinder and getting it before March 10 will, however, have to pay the non-subsidised price of Rs. 1,200.

Subsidy issue

The rest of the subsidised amount would be later reimbursed into individual bank accounts.

Officials said that they would supply gas cylinders at non-subsidised prices till Saturday, March 8 before reverting to the subsidised rates.

“We have received guidelines to start implementing the Aadhar less scheme on Wednesday evening. We are contacting distributors across the State and HPCL distributors have already confirmed that they will implement the new guidelines from Monday,” said State LPG Gas Co-ordinator, Madhukar Ingole.

one-month delay

Authorities said that almost all gas distributors would start selling cylinders at Rs. 441 by Monday.

“There will be no delivery of gas cylinders on Sunday, March 9. From Monday, a fresh start will be made,” Mr. Ingole said. It was towards January end that the Centre had decided to do away with the much criticised Aadhaar-based direct bank transfer scheme. But, it took a month for guidelines on implementation to reach authorities here.

Uncertainty ends

After the announcement in New Delhi, there was utter confusion as consumers complained that distributors kept selling LPG gas at Rs.1200 a cylinder.

Distributors on their part had maintained there was no communiqué on implementation of Aadhaar-less scheme due to which cylinders were sold at non-subsidy rate.

Cylinders

Consumers will be eligible to avail 12 subsidised cylinders between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. For the present year, the Oil Ministry officials have given two cylinders for the months of February and March.

“Consumers who have already booked nine cylinders can book two more cylinders by March 31, 2014 at the subsidised price,” Mr. Ingole added.