Rs 500 Gas Cylinders in Telangana: LPG Customers Fall for Fake News Over KYC

Hyderabad : In its poll manifesto ahead of the Telangana Assembly Election, the Congress party had promised six guarantees including subsidised cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 per cylinder. To avail this yet-to-be implemented scheme by the state government, people especially women in the state are thronging to their respective gas agencies to get their Know Your Customer (KYC) information updated.

Despite repeated clarifications and requests, LPG subscribers still continue to visit their respective gas agencies. According to the cooking gas dealers, the customers have been lining up in front of their agencies since 8 in the morning.

Nine gas agencies cater to the cooking gas needs of over 3.40 lakh customers in Khairatabad and Jubilee Hills constituencies. Of these, 83,127 are white ration card holders while only 3,368 members are beneficiaries ofAntyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).

The state government has not prepared any guidelines to provide cooking gas cylinders at a subsidised rate of Rs 500 for the beneficiaries. However, the unconfirmed news on social media and Whatsapp claim that only white card holders will be eligible to get this benefit under the Siz Guarantees programme. 

The KYC form contains essential details required for getting a new LPG connection under the central government's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme. Gas dealers in the state say due to some misinformation regarding the state government's soon to be implemented 'Mahalakshmi' scheme, the LPG subscribers are coming to their agencies in large numbers to enroll and update details. 

"Many consumers think updating KYC is essential to get subsidised cylinders under the promised Congress scheme. But that is not the case. We are getting inquiries if the scheme has started. KYC has nothing to do with the government’s proposed Mahalakshmi scheme,” said B Srinivas, Gas dealer, Jubilee Hills. 
 
Gas dealers have requested the public not to rush to the agencies unless there is an official notification about the subsidised cylinder scheme's implementation. They also said that there  is no need for  customers to visit their office as the delivery boys will capture the details required for the KYC, if needed. 

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