Kolkata: Domestic LPG consumers who fail to complete Aadhaar-based electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification by Aug 16 may lose access to subsidised household LPG cylinders and could end up paying higher prices. In Kolkata, a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder currently costs Rs 968.The public sector oil companies have begun sending SMS alerts to customers, warning that those who do not complete the e-KYC process by the deadline will no longer be entitled to buy domestic LPG cylinders at the notified household rate.“Dear customer, you are required to do e-KYC for receiving LPG cylinder at domestic rates. Despite earlier reminders, you have not done your e-KYC so far. You can do e-KYC at your home through IndianOil ONE App or at your distributor or through the delivery personnel. Failure to do e-KYC by 16.08.26 would make you ineligible for cylinders at domestic rates till e-KYC is completed. Kindly complete your e-KYC at the earliest,” a message sent to Indane consumers said.LPG distributors said non-compliant customers are likely to be billed at higher rates.“It is not clear whether non-compliant customers will be charged commercial LPG prices, but definitely they will not get the cylinders at the notified household rate, which is now Rs 968 in Kolkata, and will have to pay a higher price. The consumers who get subsidy on LPG cylinders and have not done e-KYC so far will have to do it by August 16, else they will also become ineligible for subsidy,” said vice president of All India LPG Distributors Federation Bijan Behari Biswas.In Kolkata, the current subsidy is Rs 19.57 for non-Ujjwala domestic consumers, while for Ujjwala beneficiaries the subsidy is Rs 300 per cylinder.The current price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Kolkata is Rs 3,081.5. If the oil companies charge commercial rates to domestic LPG consumers without e-KYC, then they may have to pay more than Rs 2,000 per 14.2-kg cylinder.Data available with the oil companies show that around 75-80% of 2.7 crore domestic LPG consumers in West Bengal, including Kolkata, have completed the Aadhaar-based e-KYC process.
