Udupi (The Hindu): Representatives of LPG cylinder agencies said that that gas connections were being provided to the below the poverty line (BPL) applicants on the basis of availability.

The consumers of LPG cylinders, representatives of various gas agencies and officers of oil companies, were participating in the ‘Gas Adalat’ organised by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, at the District Offices Complex at Rajatadri here on Friday.

The representatives said they had provided the details of all BPL card-holders who had applied for LPG connections to the oil companies. The applications were being cleared in phases.

The officers of the oil companies said the applicants could contact the gas agencies and get the details of the status of their applications. The LPG consumers who were getting subsidised LPG cylinders should provide their Aadhaar card numbers to the banks, they said.

Some consumers complained that a gas agency in Manipal was imposing transportation charges on them. Officers told the consumers to change their gas agencies if they were facing such problems.

The same agency was also accused of issuing coupons and insisting that the coupon holder should himself/herself come to collect the cylinders. This was difficult for the elderly to do, they said. The oil company officials assured the consumers that the coupon system would be scrapped.

Yogishwar, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, said there were many complaints of excess transportation charges being charged by gas agencies.