Srinagar, Sep 14: Now onwards Aam Aadmi will have to shell out Rs 753 for a LPG cylinder as, according to a decision by the Central government, consumers would be entitled to only six cylinders per year on the existing subsidized rate of Rs 413 per cylinder.
For the remaining LPG cylinders, the consumers shall have to pay the market rate of Rs 753 per cylinder, to be revised by the oil companies every month.
For the remaining period of this year, the consumers would be entitled to only three cylinders at subsidized rates.
While subsidized cylinders will continue to be available at Rs 413 per cylinder the market rate of LPG cylinders at non subsidized rates will be notified by the oil companies on monthly basis.

OIL COMPANIES SPEAK
“We have strictly directed our dealers to adhere to the directive of the central government, which has put a cap on subsidy of LPG cylinders,” an official of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) told Greater Kashmir.
He said that all the consumers will have to show “Red Book” an authorized document of the oil company which entitles him/her to receive six subsidized gas cylinders from dealers.
“In the absence of Red Book no gas cylinder will be given to any consumer. They will have to show Red Book for getting gas and if someone does not have the book, they can go to their dealers with documents for obtaining the book,” he said.
About consumers who are without any requisite documents and Red Book, he said: “We cannot entertain them, neither can we issue them Red Book, as in past twenty years there have been many instances where thefts of cylinders have occurred. How can we issue them documents as there is uncertainty about their credentials whether the owner of cylinder is genuine or not.”

ONE BOOK FOR ONE ADDRESS
The oil companies are upgrading their database, according to which one book will be issued for one address.
“Central government has directed that only one book will be issued to one specific address, and if any person is having two red books issued on same name and address, his one document would be cancelled,” they said.
Even oil companies are coordinating with each other, so that a single data base of consumers could be formulated. “There are many consumers who are registered with three oil companies - HP, BP, OIC. We will provide them single document, according to which only 6 gas cylinders from either of the companies would be provided under subsidy,” they said.

DEALERS CONCERNED
“The diktat of oil companies has put us in dilemma. From morning we have received hordes of customers who are enquiring about getting registration of their cylinders,” a gas dealer said.
Dealers said that oil companies have asked them to restrain from selling gas cylinders in open. “We are asked to maintain proper log of sales of gas cylinders with verification to be done by checking the Red book,” Ajaz Ahmad, a local dealers said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST