DC | 21st Jan 2014
Hyderabad: Aadhaar-LPG linkage problems have steadily worsened for domestic LPG consumers in AP.
The hasty decision of Oil Marketing Companies to extend the linkage scheme to all districts in the state, ignoring the fact that not even half of the consumers have seeded their LPG connections with Aadhaar and bank accounts so far, is turning out to be a big problem, especially for middle and lower income groups.
Added to their woes, no redressal mechanism exists to resolve issues of consumers with banks, UIDAI, OMCs and gas dealers trying to put the blame on each other for the mess. Many of those who have seeded their Aadhaar numbers with gas agencies and banks are not receiving their subsidy amounts and are ending up paying Rs 1,300 to buy a cylinder against the per-Aadhaar linkage price of Rs 412.50. People of lower income groups have actually started returning cylinders, unable to bear the cost.
In Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy alone, over 9 lakh consumers are losing subsidy due to lack of cards and Aadhaar-LPG linkage issues. “Undelivered cylinders at gas agencies have increased significantly after the introduction of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.
On average, 200 cylinders remain undelivered every day under the limits of each gas agency as customers are returning them, unable to pay Rs 1,327 for the LPG. This trend is being witnessed more in the case of consumers from lower income groups,” said Mr D. Ashok Kumar, president, Hyderabad LPG Dealers’ Association.
In Hyderabad, out of the total 13,88,107 domestic LPG connection holders, only 9.73 lakh have seeded their connections with Aadhaar and bank accounts. Thus about 4 lakh consumers have been losing their subsidy amounts since September last year.
Similarly, in Ranga Reddy district, of the total 14,32,159 domestic LPG connection holders, only 9.75 lakh consumers have seeded their connections with Aadhaar and bank accounts and about 4.57 lakh consumers are losing the subsidy amounts in the district.
Ironically, even after seeding LPG connections with Aadhaar and bank accounts, many consumers in the city are not receiving the subsidy amount in their bank accounts after the delivery of the cylinders.
"When we check the linkage status on the OMC’s website, it flashes all 'green' confirming that the linkage was done successfully. I have not been receiving the subsidy amount since September last year though the website clearly shows that the linkage was done.
I utilised three cylinders and ended up paying from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,300 till now for each cylinder. When I enquired with the gas agency and banks, they said the problem was with the National Payments Corporation of India, which monitors the online disbursal of subsidy amount. They said my data had not been updated with it. Why should I suffer for the mistakes committed by the officials though I have done everything correctly on time?" asked Mr P. Sundar Raj, an LPG consumer from Secunderabad.
There have also been cases where subsidies have been promptly paid for the first two cylinders but has been delayed from the third cylinder onwards.
"I received the subsidy amount promptly for the first two cylinders. I thought the new system was effective and consumer-friendly. Then the problems started for me. I am not getting the subsidy amount from the third cylinder. I received the fifth cylinder last week and am awaiting subsidy for the previous three cylinders.
How can the system be so faulty? Officials and gas agencies are not in a position to clarify whether it was due to a technical glitch or any other reason," said Ms D. Hemalatha, an LPG consumer from Musheerabad.
Next: Not enough banks in rural areas to credit subsidy
