Lok Sabha Question No. 4286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: DBTL
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL, LAXMAN GILUWA, SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNPURIA, Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4286 TO BE ANSWERED ON  7 th  JANUARY, 2019

## DBTL

4286.  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA: SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA: SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

## पेट्रोल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government reportedly proposes to change the existing norms of Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG subsidy Scheme and is intending to revert back to earlier system of supplying subsidized refills to domestic LPG consumers in place of the current scheme of transfer of cash subsidy into the bank account of LPG consumers under the PAHAL Scheme; and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the DBTL subsidy scheme has been helpful/successful in curbing fraudulent LPG distribution system and if so, the details thereof along with the number of fraudulent connections  identified  and  cancelled  and  the  amount  funds  saved  as  a  result  thereof, State/UTwise particularly in Odisha;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  several  officers  do  not  take  action  on  the complaints relating to supply of LPG and try to protect LPG agency resulting in increase in corruption in supply of LPG in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such cases reported during the last three years, State/UT-wise; and

(e) whether the Government has fixed annual income for the families to whom no subsidy to LPG is to be provided and if so, the details thereof along with the criteria/ norms fixed in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) carry out inter/intra company deduplication  exercise  to  identify  multiple  connection  suspects  who  avail  subsidy  on  their domestic LPG connections.  On the basis of de-duplication exercise, OMCs take further

actions  like  blocking/suspension/KYC  collection/termination.  As  on  31.12.2018,  4.09 crore  LPG  consumers  have  been  blocked  on  account  of  being  inactive/de-duplication across the country including the State of Odisha.

- (c)  &  (d)  OMCs  have  reported  that  whenever  complaints  are  received,  the  same  are investigated  and  in  all  established  cases,  punitive  action  is  taken  as  per  the  extant Marketing  Discipline  Guidelines  (MDG)  and  the  Distributorship  Agreement  against  the LPG  distributors.  Details  of  established  cases  of  irregularities/malpractice  including diversion, underweight and black marketing of LPG cylinders during the last three years and the current year are as under -
- (e) LPG subsidy is not admissible for a LPG consumer, if the consumer or his  /her spouse has taxable income of Rs. 10 lakh or above during the previous financial year .

| Year       |   Established cases |
|------------|---------------------|
| 2015-16    |                2633 |
| 2016-17    |                1854 |
| 2017-18    |                1728 |
| Apr-Sep'18 |                 789 |