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Aadhaar card number-along with biometrics is in the works to address grievances. The Ministry of Petroleum will take the next step after getting all the information.

For a long time there have been allegations that domestic cooking LPG gas is being used commercially. To address these complaints, the Ministry of Petroleum has started the process of adding customers' Aadhaar card numbers and biometrics. LPG distributors blame lack of vigilance as the reason for the increasing trend of such complaints. According to them, the Ministry of Petroleum allocates diesel, petrol or LPG. But there is no monitoring on how that allocation is being used in any state. Hence, LPG intended for domestic use is widely used in the commercial sector.

Because of that complaint, work is going on to add biometrics with Aadhaar card number of the customers. The Ministry of Petroleum will take the next step after getting all the information. Although subsidized consumers already have Aadhaar linked with LPG connection. But in order to know where and how LPG is being used, biometrics is being added to it. Knowing all the information will be very easy using technology. However, if a customer gives up the subsidy of Rs 19 per cylinder (distributors have to inform by filling the 'give up' form), then biometrics of the concerned customer is not mandatory, many said. But after realizing the petroleum ministry's hint, the distributors are taking their own initiative calling the customers to add biometrics to the LPG gas connection. According to some of them, in many cases, there is LPG connection. But the person whose name is connected, may not be alive. That information or documents were not submitted to them by the family members of the concerned persons. Among them, several cylinders are being used for commercial purposes. To check all that, customers are being called and made biometric.

On July 9, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on his X (former Twitter) handle said, “Oil marketing companies are taking the initiative of e-KYC Aadhaar verification for LPG customers. So as to weed out fake customers. Such LPG cylinder connections are taken in the name of common customers, the cylinders are being used in any commercial work. The Ministry of Petroleum may take action against the distributor concerned if it is caught using private LPG gas in commercial areas. However, in the same post, the Petroleum Minister said that there is no time limit for attaching the cooking gas Aadhaar card number. Anyone can do it by visiting the office of the LPG distributor. Or you can connect Aadhaar through oil company's app. You can also get the cylinders from the workers who come to your home. However, in order to add biometrics to Aadhaar, one has to go to the LPG distributor.