This article tells you about how to keep track of your ‘rightful’ six subsidized LPG cylinders, unless you want pay more every time

Here are details about the capping of subsidized cylinders scheme for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) announced by the Government of India on 13 September 2012. You will be surprised to know that almost 50% of the LPG consumers in the country use six cylinders or less during one full year. Therefore, effectively this percentage of customers will not be affected at all. I request each one of you to note the following:
 

• •  The number of subsidized domestic LPG cylinders available for the balance period of the current year (i.e. 14 September 2012 to 31 March 2013) would be limited to first three cylinders for each consumer irrespective of the number of cylinders consumed up to 13 September 2012.
   
• •  Thereafter, every year, first six cylinders will be supplied at the subsidized rate and beyond the first six cylinders they will be supplied at non-subsidized or market rate.
   
• •  In order to ensure that you receive all the six subsidized LPG cylinders in a year, you are required to possess the Domestic Gas Consumer Card (DGCC) booklet with a serial number and consumer number entered by the distributor. DGCC book is also commonly referred to as “Blue Book” and is issued at the time of enrolling a consumer.
   

If you have lost /misplaced the DGCC booklet or do not have the DGCC booklet or have a DGCC booklet without a serial number/consumer number, you must get in touch with your distributor and obtain a new booklet, duly stamped and signed by the distributor, after paying applicable charges or get the serial number stamped and signed by the distributor in the old DGCC booklet. The serial number of the DGCC book must be entered by the distributor in his system.
 

To ensure that all cylinders are delivered to the genuine customer, the following process has been devised:
 

The cash memo and the acknowledgement generated by the system for each cylinder will indicate the number of subsidized cylinder being delivered against entitlement i.e. 1/3, 2/3 or 3/3 as well as the Serial number of DGCC booklet.
 

Consumers on their part must do the following at each cylinder delivery:
 

•         Produce the DGCC booklet to the delivery boy while receiving the refill cylinder.
 

•         Check that the serial number of the DGCC matches with that printed on the cash memo.
 

•         Sign on the DGCC booklet as well as copy of the cash memo as acknowledgement of receipt of the refill cylinder and handover the same to the delivery man.
 

•         Ensure that the delivery details are recorded in the book and signed by the deliveryman.

Every consumer must keep the cash memo and DGCC book carefully as in case of any dispute with regard to receipt of subsidized cylinders, the cash memo and the DGCC book will be the reference points for resolution of the case. In the absence of the DGCC booklet, the distributor’s record would be considered as final.
 

All consumers are requested to get their mobile number recorded with the distributor so that confirmation of delivery of the refill cylinder can be sent through SMS by the respective oil companies to their consumers as and when electronic confirmation system is rolled out.
 

Consumers are also advised to check their booking and delivery details on the Transparency Portal of oil companies (www.petroleum.nic.in, www.hindustanpetroleum.com/www.indane.co.in/www.ebharatgas.com) and in case of any discrepancy in delivery of cylinders, immediately log complaint in the Transparency Portal.