LPG connection turns costlier

Rajahmundry: With the implementation of Aadhaar- LPG bank account linkage the number of domestic LPG number connections has come downby about 1.07 lakh in East Godavari.

As per the details available, the number stands at 9.23 lakh by the first week of January against the total of 10.30 lakh before the implementation of the linkage.

Apart from those holding multiple connections the consumers having the LPG connection other than the living family head or member or those connections in the name of other than family members were also discontinued with the facility by LPG dealers after the Aadhaar linkage.

Under this scenario, obtaining a fresh LPG connection in the domestic sector by consumers in their own name turned out to be costly.

According to civil supplies department, the present cost in January 2014 stands at Rs 1,384 for 14.2 kg, stove as per BSI standards at Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000, rubber tube Rs 170, cylinder deposit Rs 1,450, regulator Rs 150 and tax Rs 50. This is besides Rs 250 inspection charges and Rs 50 for a passbook. All this put together exceeds Rs 5,000, a vast difference from the price compared to the previous years.

Though the consumer is eligible to get back the subsidy, for the new connection there is no such assurance on getting it as the consumer has to get the bank account linkage with Aadhaar card first.

An LPG consumer of Rajahmundry, A. Prabhakara Rao, who applied for a new LPG connection, said that no time limit was fixed for the delivery of LPG connection from the dealers though they are accepting the registration.

When contacted on the issue, East Godavari LPG Dealers Association president A. Lakshmipati Rao said, “We are accepting the registration for new connections and it is up to oil companies to issue the connections and the time factor involved in the delivery. We have no role to play in this aspect.”