The district administration has introduced registration of applications for LPG connection under Deepam scheme through SMS.
“It is a simple method and also avoids delay in data entry,” said Collector in-charge J. Nivas while launching the method here on Wednesday. The State government directed the administration to introduce the facility after the district stood first in the State, and probably in the entire country, for grounding the highest number of LPG connections, 41,752 so far, under the CSR initiative of the public sector oil companies so that it could become 100 per cent LPG connected district, Mr. Nivas said. As many as 1.49 lakh applications had been received under the CSR initiative, 1.17 lakh approved, and 41,752 grounded.
The SMS method was introduced to help more eligible beneficiaries apply for the LPG connection.
The number of card-holders not having LPG connection is 4.87 lakh. Dealers are currently giving 2,000 connections per week, which they can increase to 10,000. There is also a need for a lot of infrastructure for reaching the 100 per cent connection mark. Six agencies are being opened in the Agency area to cover the entire area, Mr. Nivas said.
The process
The application is registered by sending an SMS (REG/space/ration card number) to ‘9611124269’, and the details of the applicant like name, Aadhaar number are accessed by the Civil Supplies Department.
The software would also verify if the applicant is having a LPG connection or not. There is also the facility to revoke a rejection if it is made erroneously. The applicant would know through SMS the status of his or her application. The connection is expected to be given in a month’s time.
If a beneficiary is not having ration card or unable to send SMS from the Agency area where connectivity is not available, he or she could apply through Mee Seva centre by filling an application and paying a fee of Rs. 10, Mr. Nivas said.
Aim is to make Visakhapatnam a cent per cent LPG-connected district
