LPG relief for piped gas colonies

The new directive will enable each flat owner with piped gas connection to get three more subsidised gas cylinders in the remaining part of the fiscal,as any other consumer.

LPG federation state president Usha Poonawalla said the decision to treat each household as a separate unit was taken as there was chaos among housing societies with piped gas connection. “Now,each flat in these buildings will get three subsidised cylinders till March 2013 and later from next year it will be six cylinders for the whole year. So now,the societies need not worry,’’ said Poonawalla.

With the government encouraging piped gas connections and many new societies opting for it,the LPG subsidy policy had initially came as a blow for them as the whole colony with reticulate connection was considered a single unit.

“It is a big respite for our housing society. We were wondering whether to surrender our piped gas connection,’’ said Kamla Das,a resident of Chinchwad. A resident of Baner Arvind Shinde,who recently shifted to his new flat with piped gas connection had been thinking whether he should renew his old single connection.

“We are glad the association and oil companies have taken a decision in our favour,’’ he said.

Pune district Collector Vikas Deshmukh said this has resolved the issue. He said that it had been made clear that two kitchens in a household could get two gas connections while those having a weekend house in another city could also get a separate connection for it.

Earlier,the distributors had agreed to renew their old individual connections if it was not yet surrendered or opt for new independent connections. It was also mentioned that if they did take individual gas connections they would have to surrender their piped gas connection.

With the deposit for the second cylinder having increased,dealers have stated that the amount would be mentioned. “There should not be any extra charge,’’ said Deshmukh. He said the present rates were inclusive of commission and delivery charges. He said the list of BPL connections likely to get three extra subsidised cylinders will have to be verified. He warned all those having two connections from two different companies to surrender one of them by October 31.

The new subsidised rates for 14.2 kg are Rs 433 for Pune city and Rs 433.50 for Pimpri-Chinchwad areas. The rates are different in certain rural areas while for non-subsidised cylinders the rates are Rs 920.50 for Pune Municipal Corporation area. In Pimpri-Chinchwad area,the rate has been fixed at Rs 943.50.