In a major relief to residents of apartments with piped liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply, the government has relaxed the norms and decided that each occupied flat is entitled to an annual supply of six subsidised cooking gas cylinders.
This is a change from the earlier decision under which the entire complex was treated as a single connection. As a result, the complex, irrespective of the number of flats, was to receive only six subsidised cylinders annually. Opposing this, residents of apartments with reticulated system contended that they were like other domestic consumers and hence eligible for six cylinders each. The cap on the number of subsidised cylinders for households came into effect on September 14 and for the remaining part of the current financial year each household would be eligible for three such refills. Beyond the cap, the households can purchase any number of domestic non-subsidised cylinders, which as per Chennai prices is about Rs. 480 more than the subsidised price of Rs. 398 per refill.
A communication from the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, dated October 12, to the oil firms said the entitlement on the number of subsidised cylinders would be based on the number of flats actually occupied at the beginning of the capping year. The housing society (residents’ association) should submit the list of occupants at the beginning of each financial year. It should also submit a declaration in each case of change of occupant.
The subsidised LPG cylinder supplies in the reticulated system would be regulated by the housing society on per kilogram basis limited to the capped quantity. The residents association would be required to submit quarterly returns on the flat-wise quantity of LPG consumed, duly signed by the resident.
