Consumers can get LPG cylinders without Aadhaar account: Govt

Subsidised LPG cylinders can be purchased without having an Aadhaar account, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

A clarification on delinking Aadhaar account from disbursal of subsidised LPG cylinders would be issued within a week, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily said during Question Hour.

"A clarification will be issued within a week," he said.

As far as Direct Benefit Transfer is concerned, Cabinet has decided to delink Aadhar account from disbursal of subsidised LPG cylinders. Now, subsidised cylinders can be purchased without Aadhaar account, Moily said.

He said there have been some problems in DBT programme, mainly related to banks, which have been given Rs 435 per cylinder (for subsidy) which is not enough since the subsidised price of one cylinder has increased to Rs 700.

He also emphasised that the government has not increased the price of subsidised cylinders for consumers.

Under DBT, about 4.86 crore (48.6 million) accounts have been made and around 2.06 crore (20.6 million) households have received subsidised cylinders.

Regarding Know Your Customer norms for LPG connections, the minister said the government

has already issued clarifications regarding multiple connections and would liberally look into the matter if required.

"If there are two separate LPG connections in the same address, it would be allowed if there are separate kitchens or separate households. . .A declaration has to be made (by the consumer)," he added.

Moily said every year an average of one crore new LPG connections are given, mostly in rural areas.

To a query, he said the government would think of a new scheme to ensure that LPG connections reach people, especially to those Below Poverty Line, at the earliest.

The minister noted that about 96 per cent of BPL families use less than six LPG cylinders a year on a single family basis.

Noting that about 60 per cent of people are covered by LPG and PNG connections, Moily said the idea is to make the coverage 100 per cent.

The government, if required, is ready to open more outlets and kendras for gas connections, he said.

He also said the government has increased the limit of subsidised LPG cylinders to 12 per year.

When a member requested the minister to provide coupons to MPs so that they can facilitate quicker LPG connections in their respective constituencies to those who are in urgent need of connection, Moily said, "We will consider it".