lack of awareness about Direct Benefit Transfer of lPG (DBTl) scheme which has been recently launched by the Centre is compounding things for the customers of Bharat Gas services in Dehradun. After standing in long queue since early morning at the agency, the customers who have not become Cash Transfer Compliant (CTC), are either returning empty-handed or they are forced to collect non- subsidised cylinders.
Irked over non- availability of subsidised cylinders at Arvind Gas Services, customers who stood in queue for hours on end vented anger on its officials. They alleged that agency officials were compelling them to procure non-subsided cylinders whose prices are naturally higher than the subsidiseed ones. Some customers were found blaming the Union government for their predicament. “They are responsible for the mess,” one of them said. Bharat Petroleum Corporation limited Roorkee branch assistant manager Sumeet Sharma said that there is no shortage of gas cylinders at the agencies.
Around 50 percent of total 84, 000 customers at four Bharat Gas Services in Dehradun have become CTC. Those who have not become CTC may face difficulties to procure cylinders because agency officials may direct them to become CTC before procuring cylinders. Some who have become CTC but whose data has not been updated so far, may be facing the same problems. But their concerns will be addressed without delay.
Sharma said that the Direct Benefit transfer of lPG (DBTl) scheme was launched in Uttarakhand on January 1. Uttarakhand has around two lakh consumers of whom 47 percent have already become Cash Transfer Compliant (CTC). Sharma said that the consumers who wish to join the scheme will have to either link their Aadhaar numbers with their bank accounts or if they do not possess Aadhaar number yet they will have to link their bank accounts directly with their 17 digit lPG Id.
Once a consumer joins the scheme he will get the cylinders at market price and will receive lPG subsidy directly in his bank account. A sum of Rs 568 will be paid in advance in the bank account of the consumer who has availed the scheme, as soon as he makes the first booking for a cylinder. This is in addition to the subsidy due on each cylinder. He further said that camps are being set up at various banks and lPG distributors’ premises across the State to enable lPG consumers to open bank accounts and enroll for Aadhaar.
At Arvind Bharat Gas Services, large numbers of customers were witnessed submitting forms to become CTC. Angered over erratic cylinder supply through home delivery system, some of them were seen arguing with the Agency officials. They asked when they would get cylinders. “We have booked them at the agency in December last,” one of them said. Some persons said they are facing problems to book cylinders on toll number provided by the agency.