By Express News Service
Published: 14th December 2014 06:19 AM
BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dhamendra Pradhan on Saturday asked the State Government and the oil marketing companies to make all LPG consumers cash transfer compliant (CTC) by end of this financial year.
As the modified direct benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme will be implemented in the country from January 1, 2015, the consumers are required to be cash transfer compliant to receive their subsidy in their bank accounts.
The State has about 25 lakh LPG consumers and only 19 per cent consumers have bank-Aadhaar seeding (linking the bank account with Aadhaar number).
“I have asked the State Government, oil marketing companies and bankers to stick to the target of at least two per cent DBTL entry per day. The consumers will not be entitled to gas subsidy if they fail to link their bank account with the gas agencies concerned by March next year,” Pradhan told reporters after a review of DBTL progress here.
The Union Minister said linking Aadhaar to bank account is not compulsory. If consumers do not have Aadhaar number, they could link their bank accounts to their LPG ID. The consumers should do this at the earliest because cylinders will be available at market rate from April 1 next year, he said.
Acknowledging that the LPG consumer base in the State is very low, Pradhan said his Ministry will take necessary steps to bring it to the national level.
Pradhan reviewed the progress in Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj and Puri districts through video conference with the Collectors, lead district managers and OMC officials. He appreciated the model proposed by the Collectors of Puri and Mayurbhanj.
He emphasised that ownership of the DBTL scheme lies with OMCs, which must provide single window facility at distribution points as a part of providing service to the customers. He stressed on increased cooperation between all the stake holders and implementing the scheme on a mission mode.
The Union Minister further directed the OMCs to take up the issue with the State Government for exempting LPG cylinders from entry tax for the benefit of consumers.
He advised OMCs to nominate a permanent officer for each district and share contact details with Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, district authorities, banks and UIDAI.