The
red cylinder containing LPG is a prized possession for households and there is
always concern as to how many days the connection would last and whether refill
would be readily available. LPG for domestic cooking purposes is available in
14.2Kg capacity cylinders with authorized LPG distributors of IOCL. Even in these days of double cylinders and multiple connection,
people of worried of regular supply. The
distributor is a very important person and the arrival of gas delivery boy is
heralded with happiness. Do you know the rate of a gas cylinder ??????
:
The
gas subsidy was the much talked subject for decades. Use of LPG in India by
customers is governed by LPG (Regulation of Supplies and Distribution) order. Each
distributor has a specified area of operation and customers can avail the
cylinders only if they are residing within the area of operation of a
distributor. Liquefied petroleum gas,
also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, liquid petroleum gas or simply propane or butane,
is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating
appliances and vehicles.
For
long there have been apprehensions and oft-repeated complaints about the ‘gas
cylinder meant for domestic use’ wrongly [illegally] diverted to commercial
establishments [read hotels]. People feared that this could result in them
getting an used cylinder or their quota being unscrupulously used by somebody
else. In a swift move, PM Shri Narendra
Modi changed that.
In Sept. 2012, the
Government announced restriction of the
supply of subsidised cooking gas to 6 cylinders per household in a year to
fetch an additional Rs 20,300 crore. The
CCPA decided that each household will get 6 cylinders of 14.2-kg per annum at
the subsidised rate of Rs 399 and any requirement beyond that would have to be
procured at the market rate of Rs 746 per bottle. Modiji
went a step ahead – linked Bank Account with Gas account and Aadhar – whilst critics
were busy commenting that this would never become a reality – now in a few
months, people have forgotten that they were getting gas cylinders at a lower
rate. Now they pay in full, and the subsidy, gets credited to their Bank
Account, eliminating most mischieves in gas cylinder distribution.
Now
comes another move – the Oil Ministry recently announced that subsidised
cooking gas will no longer be provided to consumers earning Rs 10 lakh or more
a year. It is stated that the new system
will begin in the new year and deny subsidy to such consumers even if the
cooking gas connection is in the name of the spouse, the ministry said. In
keeping with the approach of trusting the citizens, the rule will initially be
implemented on self-declaration basis for cylinders booked from January 2016
onwards, it said.
Indian
Express report reads that currently, there are 16.35 crore cooking gas
connections in the country. The government had earlier successfully implemented
the PAHAL scheme, which transferred cooking gas subsidy directly to bank
accounts of 14.78 crore customers to ensure that benefits go only to the target
group. The government had also given a call to well-to-do households for
voluntarily giving up LPG subsidy. This encouraged 57.50 lakh consumers to opt
out of LPG subsidy voluntarily ~ yours Truly is one among them.
At
present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at
subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price of each cylinder is Rs
608. In the assessment year 2014-15, a total of 20.26 lakh assesses were
reported as having a taxable income above Rs 10 lakh, according to the Central
Board of Direct Taxes data. Justifying the latest move, a statement issued by
the Union Petroleum Ministry said “the government has decided that the benefit
of the LPG subsidy will not be available for LPG consumers if the consumer or
his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs 10 lakh during the previous
financial year computed as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.”
For the uninformed, the recent price of LPG cylinder in Chennai
is Rs.622.25.
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar
4th Jan 2016
