Filing of KYC must for subsidised LPG cylinder connection

Sounding a warning to the consumers to pull up their socks and complete formalities before the December 31 deadline, the Government on Friday said domestic LPG cylinder consumers with multiple connections who fail to submit their Know Your Customer (KYC) forms by the deadline stand to lose their subsidised cylinder supply and will have to buy cooking gas at commercial rates.

“The LPG connections of multiple LPG connection holders, who fail to furnish the KYC forms by the prescribed date, will be suo moto converted into Non-Domestic Exempted Categories (NDEC) rate connections,’’ Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Panabaaka Lakshmi told Lok Sabha.

The government had in September decided to restrict supply of subsidised LPG to six cylinders of 14.2-Kg each per household in a year. Any additional requirement is to be bought at non-subsidised rate. The subsidised LPG costs Rs. 410.50 per cylinder in Delhi and additional requirements for domestic use are to be procured at Rs. 895.50 per 14.2-Kg unit. A 14.2-Kg cylinder for non-domestic use is charged commercial rate as is referred to as NDEC and costs Rs. 1,156.

Further, in her written reply, the Minister said the last date for fulfilling the KYC formalities has been extended to December 31 from the November 30 deadline.

According to oil marketing companies (OMCs) only multiple connection holders should submit the KYC details before the new deadline. The OMCs have identified over 2 crore households with multiple connections have been taken at the same addresses under different names. The OMCs are implementing the policy of one household, one connection and have asked consumers to voluntarily give up additional connections.

Consumers in the KYC form have to give all the necessary details like name, date of birth, father's name, mother's name, spouse name, complete address with pin-code with an option to provide bank details. They have to submit self-attested photocopies of address and ID proof along with the filled in form. New subsidised LPG connections will be issued after completion of the KYC formalities and multiple connection check.

“All LPG consumers are eligible for three subsidised domestic cylinders during the remaining part of the current year ending March 31, 2013. There is no restriction on the number of domestic non-subsidised cylinders that consumers can avail beyond the three subsidised LPG refills to meet their genuine demand,’’ a senior OMC official said. From April 1, next year, LPG consumers can avail six domestic subsidised LPG refill cylinders in a financial year although the government has already indicated that it was in the process of reviewing this cap and take a decision in the next few days.