lPG users across the country will from today get cash subsidy directly into their bank accounts so that they buy the cooking fuel at market price.
Domestic lPG users will get Rs568 in the bank account the moment they join the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme for lPG, which has now been renamed PAHAl. They will have to use this money to buy 14.2-kg refill at the market price. Currently, the subsidised lPG costs Rs417 per 14.2-kg cylinder while a market-priced refill costs Rs752 in Delhi. It will be priced higher in other cities depending on local taxes. The ambitious plan, launched by the previous UPA government in June 2013 but abruptly stopped earlier this year following court orders, has been modified to exclude the requirement of unique identification number (Aadhaar) for availing the cash subsidy.