In the past week over 400 new consumers in the State have obtained their LPG connection online. They logged on towww.mylpg.in, submitted scanned copies of proof of address and proof of identity. After verification of documents they obtained connections through the Sahaj scheme, which was launched on Sunday by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas via video conferencing.
“It is a simple process and a consumer who does not have a connection can get a new connection within seven working days. The scheme is an attractive one for the urban middleclass. Many of these online consumers, who logged in during the trial run, are from cities,” said an oil industry source.
For customers, this process also eliminates the undue pressure from a section of dealers, who insist on selling gas stoves, tubes and at times even saris. “There have been instances where dealers have refused to provide new connection if the consumer did not purchase such items. Household items including pressure cookers and utensils are sold to unwary customers. If the online system eliminates this hindrance it is well and good. But oil companies should ensure that at the dealer verification stage he does not insist on selling these things,” said consumer activist T. Sadagopan.
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A dealer said that this would pave the way for computer centres to make a quick buck. “They made a killing during the initial stages of Pahal scheme in which subsidy is sent to the consumer’s account directly. In rural areas where IT knowledge is minimal such centres will now ensure that consumers go only through them,” he said.
There are over 1.53 crore LPG consumers attached to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. in the State. Each month these companies get around 80,000 new customers in the State. “The oil companies cover a little over 70 per cent of consumers in the State.
One has to log on to www.mylpg.in and submit scanned copies of proof