New Delhi, March 2, 2015: The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that Government has launched a voluntary initiative to encourage LPG consumers, who can afford to pay the market price for LPG to surrender their LPG subsidy.
As on 23.02.2015, 1.46 lac (approx.) LPG customers have opted out of subsidy. The State/UT-wise data as on 23.02.2015.
State/UT/OMC-wise details of number of registered active domestic LPG consumers as on 01.02.2015.
The quantum of subsidy varies from market to market on monthly basis. The subsidy amount in Delhi for the month of February 2015 is Rs 187.18 per 14.2 Kg cylinder.
Under the PAHAL Scheme, LPG consumers joining the scheme, will get the LPG cylinders at market price and receive LPG subsidy (as per their entitlement) directly into their bank accounts. All domestic LPG consumers have been given two alternatives in the scheme. If LPG consumer has Aadhaar number, he/ she will have to link it to his/ her LPG consumer number and bank account. Alternatively, he/ she can link his bank account directly to his LPG consumer ID. This alternative ensures that no LPG consumer is denied subsidy for want of Aadhaar number.
All LPG consumers who have not joined the scheme, will be given a grace period of three months from the date of launch to join the scheme. The scheme was launched in 54 districts on 15.11.2014 and in rest of country on 01.01.2015. During grace period such consumers will get LPG as per their entitlement at subsidized price. Additionally, a period of three months beyond grace period known as parking period is given to LPG consumers for joining the scheme. During parking period such consumers will get cylinders as per their entitlement at market price and subsidy will be kept parked with OMCs. This parked subsidy would be released as soon as consumer joins the scheme. However, if a consumer joins the scheme after parking period, the parked subsidy would lapse and consumer will get subsidy from prospective date only.
No consumer who has successfully enrolled under PAHAL scheme is deprived of subsidy. The State/UT-wise number of active consumer enrolled under the scheme with OMCs as on 25.02.2015.