IOC is still awaiting compensation from the Finance Ministry for nearly Rs 400 crore, which it transferred directly to customers’ bank accounts as cooking gas subsidy.
“There has been no budgetary support for the advance payment we have made.
“They may be putting it in the second supplementary demands for grant to be considered in the winter session of Parliament. We hope by January, reimbursement may come,” said P.K. Goyal, Director (Finance).
For IOC alone, the subsidy is Rs 400 crore, while it is around Rs 850 crore for the industry.
The pace of implementing the Aadhaar-linked subsidy scheme for LPG has slowed following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the unique number cannot be made mandatory for welfare schemes.
“We have filed an appeal with the Government. The hearing is due for November 12. Meanwhile, the scheme is going on as planned,” said Makrand Nene, Director (Marketing).
Today, the scheme is operating in over 144 districts, covering 8.3 million consumers.
The Government has decided to extend the scheme in 235 more districts by January in phases, depending on Aadhaar penetration.