DOMESTIC GAS TO COST Rs.955 IN CHANDIGARH from January 2014

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 21^st  September:- All LPG consumers who have not linked their Aadhaar number to LPG consumer number and their bank account will have three month grace period from date of launch to do so. During this period they will continue to get the LPG cylinders at subsidized rate, as they are getting today, up to the cap of 9 cylinders.This was disclosed by Secretary Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs - Satyagopal, Today, while hold a meeting to review the preparedness of DBT.  The meeting was also attended by M.Shayin, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Tanvi Garg, IAS, Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Danish Ashraf, IAS, Joint Director Food and Civil Supplies, Assistant Director General, UIDAI including other officers from Chandigarh Administration, UIDAI, Bank and representatives of IOCL, HPCL and BPCL.

While reviewing the preparedness, Secretary Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, cleared that after the end of grace period i.e. w.e.f. 01.01.2014, LPG cylinders will be sold to all domestic LPG consumers at market price. However, the subsidy will be transferred to only those who have linked Aadhaar number to LPG consumer number and Bank account and others will not get any subsidy.

He further added that it is observed that while more than 80 per cent of the LPG consumers in Chandigarh have an Aadhaar number, the seeding of Aadhaar numbers with Gas Agencies (37%) and with Banks (9%) is quite low.  He felt immediate need for aggressive public awareness programme.  He desired that apart from advertisement in the news paper, Oil Companies should go in big way for creating awareness among public through hoardings, standies, banners etc. He also urged UIDAI to continue with sending SMS to consumers and banks to assure that Aadhaar number received by them must be seeded within 24 hours.

"A review meeting to assess the progress of the implementation will be held before the end of this month. Our aim is to bring all the customers under the scheme so that they will get the advanced subsidies in their bank account,'' said the Secretary.

To avail the subsidy the beneficiary must give his copy ofAadhaar card to the LPG distributor and the bank. The LPG distributor will give the Aadhaar number to the oil marketing companies (OMCs) who in turn will directlytransfer money to the beneficiaries' account.

DBTL Scheme will ensure that the benefit reaches intended beneficiary thereby curbing wastage/ leakage in the subsidy delivery system.