TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: In a development that might raise many an eyebrow, District Collector, South N D Agrawal on Wednesday was categorical in saying that LPG consumers, who have not registered for the cash subsidy scheme, will have to buy gas cylinders at market price from December 1.
He made it clear that no further time extension will be given to LPG consumers from the district to avail cash subsidy after November 30 despite the fact that only 57 per cent of LPG consumers from South Goa have registered themselves with the gas dealers, while only 46 per cent have registered with banks.
Addressing the media, Agrawal asserted that LPG consumers without registration with the dealers will not be entitled for cash subsidy from December 1. When reporters drew his attention that only a little over half the consumers are registered with the dealers and that he should get the deadline extended further, the Collector expressed his helplessness in the matter. “My office is not directly connected with the LPG scheme. I am only coordinating between the oil companies and the LPG dealers to streamline the registration process”, Agrawal said.
He replied in the negative when asked whether his office has written to the oil companies to extend the November 30 deadline for registration, saying the matter pertains to the Central government.
When it was pointed out to him that many a LPG consumer had not got his number registered for the cash subsidy following confusion in the wake of the Supreme Court order stating that Aadhar card is not compulsory for availing government schemes, Agrawal declined to offer any comment.
“We had twice given time extension for LPG consumers from South Goa to register for cash subsidy. The
huge percentage of consumers who have not got registered is also attributed to the fact that some consumers have more than one gas connection”, he said.
