New Delhi| July,9: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, clarified that there is no deadline for complying with eKYC authentication process for LPG cylinders.
Puri’s response on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) came in response to a letter by VD Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Satheesan noted in the letter that while mustering is necessary, requiring it to be done at respective gas agencies has caused inconvenience to regular LPG holders. Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Tuesday that Oil Marketing Companies or OMCs have been diligently implementing eKYC Aadhaar authentication for LPG customers to eliminate bogus accounts and prevent the fraudulent booking of commercial cylinders. However, Puri clarified that the process has been in place for over eight months and is aimed at ensuring that only genuine consumers receive LPG services.
Explaining the process, Puri said, “In this process, the LPG Delivery Personnel while delivering LPG Cylinders to Customer verifies credentials. Delivery personnel using their mobile phone captures the Aadhaar credentials of the customer through an app.” “Customer receives an OTP which is used to complete the process. Customers can also approach distributor showroom at their convenience,” he added. Alternatively, customers can also install OMC Apps and complete the e KYC on their own. “There is no deadline for this activity either by Oil Marketing Companies or the Central Government. It is also clarified by OMCs that there are no “Mustering” of customers at Showrooms of LPG distributorships,” Puri said. “Further, Oil companies are also issuing a clarification to press in this matter for assuring the customers and ensuring that there is no hardship or inconvenience to any genuine consumer,” he added.
