In state,42 lakh families use LPG,but 52 lakh gas connections

However,computerisation of data by oil companies revealed 52 lakh gas connections in the state — a difference of nearly 10 lakh between gas connections and users. This is just one of the many anomalies revealing high diversion of the fuel in the land of dhabas,LPG cars and lavish weddings. The number of ration cards,against which most gas connections are issued,is 56 lakh in Punjab. Still,20 lakh families “with no gas connection” are being issued the fuel of the poor,kerosene.

It was the high number of gas connections that led to 63 per cent cut in kerosene quota of Punjab in May. Now curtailed to 22,500 kilo litres per quarter,the state has cut the entitlement of poorest of poor Antodhya Anna Yojana (AAY) and BPL families to 10 litres per household and of its own 15 lakh blue card holders to five litres a month.

The Union Oil Ministry has refused Punjab’s request to restore the earlier quota till the state proves its contention on number of families with gas connections being lower than those registered with oil companies.

Admitting to presence of duplicate,bogus gas connections,Punjab food and civil supply department said oil companies have also begun a de-duplication drive and supply to those holding more than one connection will be stopped. A pilot project to verify gas connections has been started in Rajpura as per data available from oil companies.

D S Grewal,Secretary (food and civil supply),said: “Those with duplicate gas connections from same or different companies will be weeded out. We are soon to begin computerisation of ration cards,for which the Supreme Court has set a deadline of October 31. It will also reveal the number of families with gas connections. We have also sought information from the National Population Register (NPR),which has conducted a national household survey on cooking fuel. Since gas connections are also issued against voter IDs,we will also cross-check voter lists. The entire PDS system is being revamped and eventually will be linked to Aadhaar,the unique identification number. It will ensure only those whose biometrics match get PDS rations.”

It is only once genuine beneficiaries are identified will Punjab experiment with cash subsidy for kerosene beneficiaries,an option given by the Centre as it works towards phasing out fuel subsidy,he added.

The Punjab Kerosene Dealers’ Association claimed that the percentage of fake and duplicate gas connections in the state could be as high as 40 per cent. The 225 dealers of the state had gone on a strike after the kerosene quota cut stating it has badly hit their business.

Punjab Kerosene Dealers’ Association president Gurjit Singh said: “Till the time the number of genuine gas connections is not discovered,the right kerosene quota will not be restored. Many genuine families are being deprived of fuel after the cut. Duplicacy can be found out simply through an affidavit from registered LPG users at the time of delivery of refill. The acute shortage during winters proves that there is rampant black marketing. Domestic supply is being diverted to dhabas,hotels and LPG cars. We have given proof of a person with 17 gas connections to the department. This clearly shows the extent of black marketing and duplicacy.”