With internet clampdown, subsidy on LPG cylinders stopped in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 17 KNS:  The blockade of internet services in Kashmir has left beneficiaries of a flagship programme of present government high and dry here.
The direct benefit transfer (DBT) subsidy being provided to LPG consumers for 12 cylinders per year has come to a halt due to internet shutdown.
The consumers told KNS that they have not received a single penny as subsidy Since August. They said the distributors are not making entries on the pass books provided to them.
A consumer from Sopore town told KNS he approached the concerned distributor several times for subsidy but he told me that subsidy money will come to his account only when interned facility is restored.
“Poor people are the worst victims as they have been deprived of subsidised cooking gas. If the distributors are not able to make online entries, they should provide the cylinders at subsidised rates till the internet is restored,” he added.
An official of CAPD department confirmed the non-release of subsidy amount.
According to the official data, there are   11 lakh customers of HP gas, 3 lakh of IOC and 1.5 of BP.
 
The official added that if internet is restored to gas cylinder distributors at earliest, there are still chances of people availing benefits.
 
“After two months, people will lose the beneficiary amount,” he added.
 
LPG Distributors Federation President, Jagmohan Singh Raina confirmed the difficulties being faced by them to upload data of customers. It is to pertinent to mention here that internet services in the valley were suspend by the government hours ahead of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. (KNS

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