Phase II of DBT for LPG from Sept 1

Phase-1 of the project has reached 7.3 million customers in 20 districts across India

The Direct Benefit Transfer for the LPG (DBTL) scheme has been extended to 7.3 million LPG customers across select districts under Phase 1 implementation.

Under the scheme, cash subsidy is transferred for the LPG cylinders directly into the bank accounts of the LPG consumers while the sale happens at the market price.

According to a government statement, so far around 3.5 million LPG consumers have already linked their Aadhaar numbers to the LPG consumer numbers and their bank accounts in 20 districts. About 2.4 million consumers are already receiving the subsidy directly in their bank accounts.

In order to avail transfer of cash subsidy into the bank account, Aadhaar number of the LPG consumer has to be linked to the LPG consumer number and the bank account of the LPG consumer for which a three month grace period is provided from the date of launch.The DBTL scheme is now slated to be launched in another 34 districts of the country from September 1, 2013, covering 14.7 million LPG consumers.

All LPG consumers of these 34 districts (including 20 districts covered earlier) are advised to obtain Aadhaar number and provide them to their LPG distributors and to their banks if they wish to avail of the LPG subsidy.

Aadhaar number is not required for availing LPG cylinders at non-subsidised rate.

Of the 20 districts, where the scheme is implemented, Karnataka has two districts -- Mysore and Tumkur. Andhra Pradesh has five districts, and one each in Daman & Diu, Goa, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Punjab. Four districts have been covered in Himachal Pradesh, and two each in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh in Phase-1 of the project.