Thiruvananthapuram: The Aadhar-linked LPG direct subsidy scheme is proving to be a costly affair for the consumers.
Those who have linked their gas connections with Aadhar have to pay a higher price for the gas cylinder compared to those who have not done so.
Consumers said that when the LPG subsidy was debited to their accounts, an additional Rs 20 was being deducted as Value Added Tax (VAT). This is apart from Rs 20 being deducted as VAT during the door delivery of cylinders.
LPG consumers, who have not linked their bank account and LPG connection with Aadhar, have to pay only around Rs 447 per cylinder.
But those with Aadhar-linked bank accounts have to pay Rs 1,071.50 per cylinder on delivery.
The subsidy component will be later credited to the bank account of such consumers.
Anil Warrier, a consumer, told DC that after a cylinder was delivered to him, he received a message on December 6 that Rs 435 has been credited to his bank account as subsidy.
However, the amount has not yet come to his account, he said.
Even if the subsidy is credited, it means that he has paid Rs 189. 50 more than those who have not linked their account with Aadhar, he said.
The bank and the gas agency could not give a satisfactory reply to the query regarding the same, Warrier said.
