TNN | Mar 16, 2015, 11.51AM IST
BHOPAL: LPG cylinders will no more be available from dealers at subsidized rates from April 1. Subsidy on LPG cylinder would be credited to bank accounts of customers registered for Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBTS).
According to district administration officials the three months grace for LPG consumers to receive subsidized cylinders directly from dealers expire on March 31.
Beyond this date, LPG cylinders will be sold at market price and consumers registered under subsidy transfer scheme will get cash subsidy directly in their bank accounts. Moreover, holding an Aadhaar card is no more the necessary criterion for receiving subsidy on cooking gas in bank accounts.
District administration officials clarified some 70% of estimated 5.35 lakh domestic LPG customers in Bhopal have registered under Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBTS). Those who have not registered yet can do so in another three months time.
Unregistered consumers are not to be concerned about subsidy benefit. "Even if a LPG consumer purchases a cylinder at market rate and registers within three months from April 1, his account will be credited with the subsidy amount after registration," said an official.
Currently, subsidized LPG costs about Rs 457 per 14.2-kg cylinder while a market-priced refill is likely to cost around Rs 777 in Bhopal. With DBTS registration LPG consumers will pay full amount to LPG dealer and receive a refund fund transfer into their account to avail subsidy.
If customers do not possess Aadhaar number, they will have to link their bank account directly with their 17 digit LPG ID. There are estimated 7,000 dealers in MP.
From new financial year, all domestic consumers will get cash subsidy transferred in bank account the moment they join DBTS for LPG which has now been renamed as Pratyaksh Hanstantarit Labh (PAHAL). They will have to use this money to buy 14.2 kg refill at market price, he added.