The Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme has reached three million households since it was rolled out in 18 districts on June 1.
According to the Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry, Rs 138 crore has been transferred to LPG consumers in these districts.
The scheme, which is being implemented in high Aadhaar enrolment districts, commenced operations in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh from Thursday. The scheme could not be started there earlier due to the code of conduct as the Lok Sabha seat was due for elections.
“With this, all 20 districts identified for the first phase of the scheme have been covered,” the Ministry said.
Under the scheme, as soon as the first subsidised cylinder is delivered to consumers, the next subsidy gets credited in their bank account for purchase of the next subsidised cylinder at market rate.
So far 1.72 million Aadhaar-linked domestic LPG consumers have got an advance in their bank account and on the delivery of the first subsidised cylinder, the next subsidy (1.68 million transactions so far) was transferred to their bank account, the Minister added.
All LPG consumers, who have not linked their Aadhaar number to their consumer number and their bank account, will get a three-month grace period from the date of launch. During this period, they will continue to get cylinders at subsidised rates, up to the cap of nine cylinders.
After the end of the grace period with effect from September, cylinders will be sold to all domestic LPG consumers at market price. The subsidy will be transferred to only those who have linked their Aadhaar numbers to the LPG consumer number and bank accounts.
The Government had envisaged the scheme’s launch in 20 high-Aadhaar coverage districts benefiting 73 lakh consumers. The scheme is aimed at curbing leakages, prevent black-marketing and providing subsidy to consumers in their bank accounts.