No subsidised LPG refills for users yet to complete eKYC

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As on September 14, when the deadline for eKYC ended, around 3.16 crore domestic LPG consumers across the country had not completed BAA. | Photo Credit: file photo

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) households that are yet to complete the biometric Aadhaar authentication or eKYC will not be supplied refills at subsidised Retail Selling Price (RSP) with immediate effect.

They need to complete the Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) process to continue availing cylinders at the subsidised RSP. Consumers unwilling or unable to complete the process will be supplied refills at the market determined price without any explicit or implicit subsidy, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has conveyed to the three public sector oil marketing companies. It, however, did not specify the market determined price.

As on September 14, when the deadline for eKYC ended, around 3.16 crore domestic LPG consumers across the country had not completed BAA. This despite repeated extensions of timelines. Explicit subsidy benefits like DBTL and targeted subsidy for such non-BAA consumers have already been stopped with effect from July 1. They, however, continue to draw refills at the regulated RSP which involves an implicit subsidy and an avoidable burden on the exchequer, according to the Ministry’s September 17 communication shared by the Telangana LPG Distributors’ Association (TLDA).

In this backdrop, the Ministry has approved, with immediate effect, two options for non-BAA consumers — complete the authentication process to continue availing cylinders at the regulated RSP or provide in writing to the distributor concerned about their inability to do so and receive refills at market determined price.

The Ministry directed the companies, Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL, to block consumers not BAA compliant. However, once they complete BAA, the consumers will become eligible to draw refills at the regulated RSP.

TLDA president Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the Association appeals to domestic LPG consumers to complete BAA at the earliest to avoid any interruption in their essential domestic LPG supply. There are an estimated 1.26 crore domestic LPG connections in the State.

The BAA can be completed, free of cost, at the office of the LPG Distributor concerned; at the time of cylinder delivery, through the biometric-enabled handheld device available with the delivery personnel; or through the mobile applications and OMC customer portals. Consumers are advised to keep their Aadhaar linked and updated, and to ensure that the mobile number registered with the LPG connection is active to receive all OMC alerts and OTPs.

TLDA said it fully supports the government of India’s objective of ensuring 100% BAA of domestic LPG consumers, as it is essential for prudent utilisation of public funds and for accurately targeting the subsidy to the deserving.

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