HIKED LPG PRICES IRK CONSUMERS

There is growing resentment among domestic LPG consumers about the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme being implemented in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts from September 1. Due to lack of Aadhaar-LPG-bank linkage, more than 50 per cent of LPG consumers are forced to buy cylinders for the market price of `1,024.50.

There is growing resentment among domestic LPG consumers about the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme which is being implemented from September 1.

Due to lack of Aadhaar-LPG-bank linkage, more than 50 per cent of LPG consumers are forced to purchase cylinders for the market price of `1,024 against the earlier price of `412.

Meanwhile, those who have successfully completed the linkage too are forced to incur an additional burden of `157.

Consumers, especially from socially and economically weaker sections, are badly hit. Ironically, these were the sections which the UPA government said would benefit from the DBT scheme.

The market price of cylinders are being revised every month. The price, which was `820 two months back, has now been increased to `1,024 and consumers say there has been no corresponding increase in the amount credited by OMCs.

The price is expected to touch `1,200 in the coming months thanks to a weakening rupee, which would mean a further burden on LPG consumers.

Then there are variations in the amount credited by the OMCs. For the first cylinder, `435 is being credited immediately after the cylinder is booked and another instalment of `455 is credited as advance soon after the delivery.

“The market price of cylinder has been increased by `62 over the last month. However, there is no clarity on the subsidy amount to be credited by the OMCs,” said P. Venkateshwar Rao, president, AP LPG Distributors Association.