Now, ration card not must for new LPG connections

Obtaining new LPG domestic connections has become a lot easier. Ration cards are now no longer mandatory to get new connections in the state.  Both state government and oil marketing companies - IOC, HPCL and BPCL - have recently directed all LPG agencies not to push for ration cards for sanctioning new connections. Instead, ration cards will be considered one of the identity proofs, Know Your Customer (KYC) documents. But one has to submit the Revenue Register number (RR number) mentioned in the monthly power bill to get a connection. The state government in 2004 made it mandatory to submit ration cards to get an LPG connection. This was done to prevent people from misusing ration cards to get both LPG cylinders and kerosene, which are highly subsidised. People are entitled to either of the fuels. With ration card distribution becoming a mess, gullible people used to face a tough time obtaining new LPG connections. "Now there is no need for ration cards to get new connections. RR number and one of the KYC documents are enough. All the agencies have been given a direction in this regard,” said IOC Deputy General Manager (LPG) Dilip Rai. The State Food and Civil Supplies Department (SFCSD), which collected RR numbers of all LPG consumers in the state last year, has now linked the ration card database with that of the RR numbers available with the electricity supply companies. This has enabled it to ascertain whether a ration card applicant already has an LPG connection. As a result, it has become almost impossible for one to hoodwink the government and get both LPG and kerosene supply, explained the officials. However, the SFCSD has not yet withdrawn its 2004 order. Ironically, the initiative to create an RR number and ration card database had come under severe criticism from various corners. The SFCSd had then announced that LPG connections of those who failed to submit RR numbers would be disconnected. Faced with mounting opposition against the move, the then government in 2012 had directed the SFCSD not to resort to disconnection. But the department had gone ahead with the database creation, said the officials. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said a new system has been put in place wherein the department would know if an applicant for the ration card possess LPG connection. Hence, there is no need to insist that people submit ration cards for obtaining new LPG connection. But RR numbers are a must, he added.   Deccan Herald