TNN | Dec 18, 2014, 02.25AM IST
CHENNAI: With less than two weeks left for the modified direct benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme, which recently came to be known as Pahal, to be launched in the state, only 14% of the LPG customers have enrolled for it.
Under the scheme, the cash subsidy for LPG will be transferred directly into customers' bank accounts. The scheme enables a consumer to register for the subsidy even if he/she does not have an Aadhaar card.
U V Mannur, executive director, Indian Oil Corporation (Tamil Nadu), said the state is one of the few with 85% LPG penetration. "We want all consumers to get the benefit of the subsidy by enrolling in the scheme. Unfortunately, the response is poor." Oil marketing companies have decided to introduce a consolidated form for both customers having Aadhaar cards and those without them.
At present, customers with Aadhaar numbers should approach banks and LPG dealers to get their accounts linked using Form 1 and 2. Consumers without an Aadhaar number have to use Form 3 and 4 to link the subsidy to their bank accounts. The forms can be downloaded from www.mylpg.in or taken from LPG distributors. "Customers have to give one copy to the distributor and one to the bank," said Mannur.
He said they have directed distributors to set up a drop box where customers can drop their bank account details. "Distributors have been asked give the customers bank account details to the respective banks. But customers may not get any acknowledge slip from distributors for giving bank account details on drop box."
Oil company officials said they will provide time till March 31, 2015 for households to receive subsidized cylinders. In Chennai, a 14.2kg domestic cylinder costs 404.50 and an unsubsidized one 749.50. A consumer gets 12 subsidised cylinders a year.
At the end of the grace period, non-cash transfer compliant LPG customers will be provided cylinders at market prices for three month. The subsidy due to such customers will be stored with the oil marketing companies to be transferred to the customer's bank account once he becomes a cash transfer compliant customer. A permanent advance is paid in the bank account of consumers as soon as they make the first booking for a cylinder after joining the scheme before the delivery. This advance ensures that LPG consumers have extra cash to pay the first LPG cylinder at market price.
OMCs will conduct campaigns on Saturdays and Sundays at various places in and around Chennai.
For more information, contact IOC (044-24339236), BPCL (044-26215575) or HPCL (044-24985153).