TNN | Jan 18, 2015, 12.19AM IST
Pune: Only 55% LPG customers have registered so far under the modified direct benefit transfer of LPG (MDBTL) scheme launched in the district on January 1. Oil marketing companies have urged consumers not to wait till the 'grace period' ends on March 31 and become cash transfer compliant as early as possible.
The registration has been dismal so far, officials from the oil companies said. They said that while many consumers are citing the 'grace period' as the reason for not enrolling, the period is essentially meant for consumers who do not possess bank accounts and hence, cannot enrol for the scheme directly.
The district collector had earlier decided to cut gas connections of those consumers who do not register in time for the MDBTL scheme launched by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
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The oil company officials told TOI that the March 31 is mainly for consumers living below poverty the line (BPL) or in rural pockets who do not possess bank accounts. Consumers in cities who have bank accounts should not wait till the end of the grace period to register under the scheme, which is mandatory for all people who want to receive the subsidy.
Cash transfer compliant (CTC) customers are those who are eligible to receive subsidies directly into their bank accounts.
An oil marketing company official told TOI that the grace period was introduced in the earlier scheme as at that time, Aadhaar number linking was mandatory to become CTC. Since a lot of people did not possess Aadhaar cards at that time, a grace period of three months was provided from the launch of the scheme.
"Since having an Aadhaar card is no longer necessary to be part of the modified scheme, the grace period now exists only for consumers not having bank accounts. In the meantime, others have to approach their distributors with a copy of the front page of their passbook and a cancelled cheque in order to link their bank accounts to their LPG ID and become cash transfer compliant customers," the official added.