LPG agencies insist on Aadhaar despite orders

The government’s direction to domestic LPG distributors to not insist on Aadhaar cards from customers does not seem to have had the desired impact.

Some of the LPG distributors in the City continue to ask for the unique number for giving new connections, transferring LPG connections and even refills.

Union Minister for Petroleum M Veerappa Moily during his visit to the City last month had clarified that even for claiming subsidy on LPG, customers do not need to produce the Aadhaar card.

V Nagaraj, a resident of Indiranagar said: “I have been living in Bangalore for the past four decades and got my LPG connection from a distributor in KR Puram, where we used to reside earlier. Now, I want to get the connection transferred to an agency in Indiranagar. I have been to the agency twice with my documents and the distributor asks for Aadhaar. I am yet to enrol for it.”

Officials of the oil companies, however, say that the agencies are only asking for Aadhaar if the customers have them. They also claim that the agencies are only following the guidelines of the Union petroleum ministry.

The LPG distributors in the City seem to be having a free run as the State government does not have direct control on them as they come under the purview of the Union petroleum ministry.

Speaking with Deccan Herald, Latha Krishna Rau, Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies department,  said: “We do hear about such complaints on and off, but the department has no control over the LPG agencies.”

Prashant Dey, Manager, LPG (retail), Indian Oil Corporation, said: “There has been no complaint of customers being denied refills for want of Aadhaar. We agree that the distributors ask customers if they have Aadhaar and in doing so we only follow the directions of the petroleum ministry.”

Pay for KYC form

LPG customers’ woes do not end here. There are complaints that several LPG agencies, especially in Indiranagar, KR Puram and other parts of the City, are forcing customers to pay Rs five for KYC (Know Your Customer) form.

This form is to be made available to the customers free of cost and it can also be downloaded from the website of the oil companies.

“If anyone complains to us regarding the sale of KYC form, we will take action against the erring agency,” Dey said.