Along with the government decision to raise to 12 the cap on annual availability of subsidised LPG cylinders, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs Thursday decided to suspend the direct benefit transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme till a committee conducts a review of its implementation.

 

 "Pending the committee examining the issues, the Aadhaar-linked LPG subsidy transfer has been put on hold," Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily told media persons announcing the cabinet decision.  

 

 Under the Aadhar card-linked DBTL scheme, consumers in 289 districts in 18 states have been receiving the subsidy amount in their bank accounts on purchase of cooking gas at market rates. The scheme was extended this month to 105 districts, including Delhi and Mumbai. 

 

 Announcing that a committee has been formed to review the scheme, Moily said: "The committee will go into the complaints. There are a lot of complaints about problems in accessing Aadhar."

 

 Many consumers either do not have the Aadhaar number, or do not possess a bank account linked to their Aadhaar number. 

    

 Subsidised LPG costs Rs.414 for a 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi, while consumers who have exhausted their quota have to buy LPG at the market price of Rs.1,258 per cylinder. 

 

 Information Minister Manish Tewari clarified that the committee would review only the LPG component of the Aadhar scheme, that is in operation for transfer of other forms of subsidy to beneficiaries.