Over 18,000 LPG Connections Blocked in Dhamtari for Not Completing Biometric e-KYC; Officials, Public Representatives Also Affected

Dhamtari: Oil companies have software-locked more than 18,000 domestic LPG connections in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, targeting consumers who did not complete biometric authentication. The e-KYC process has been under way in the district for the past three years.

Officials and public representatives among those affected

The action has affected not only ordinary consumers but also several officials and public representatives of the district. The connections of more than 15 district officials, along with a prominent public representative from Dhamtari's urban area, have also been blocked.

The grace period given by the petroleum companies ended on 30 September, and the software lock was applied in the system on the morning of 1 October. Eleven gas agencies in the district have a total of 2.31 lakh consumers, of whom 1.36 lakh are beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Despite repeated ultimatums, camps held at ward level and door-to-door notices, consumers who did not complete authentication now face difficulty running their kitchens.

New connections on hold; double-cylinder facility stopped

The issuing of new gas connections in the district has been completely stalled for the past four months because of an ongoing update to the portal's biometric and duplication-checking module. New applicants, transferred employees and newly married couples are having to make repeated visits to agencies.

Aimed at curbing black marketing, the companies have also tightened the rules. The interval for booking the next refill is now a uniform 25 days for both urban and rural areas. The facility to convert a single-cylinder connection into a double-cylinder one has also been stopped completely.

How the cost works out

The 25-day limit has created difficulty for large families. In households of six to eight members, a 14.2 kg cylinder lasts only 12 to 15 days, but the next booking is possible only after 25 days. Consumers are therefore having to arrange an alternative for the remaining days.

The companies have offered the option of taking a connection for a 10 kg fibre (Chhotu) cylinder, but its refill is costlier. A standard 14.2 kg refill costs ₹1,022, while consumers will be charged ₹1,600 for a 10 kg refill, which works out to more than double the price per kg.

How to get a connection unblocked

According to District Food Officer B K Korram, biometric e-KYC is the only way to unblock a connection. The consumer must visit the agency in person and complete authentication through a fingerprint or iris scan. Once verification is complete, the connection will be reactivated automatically on the portal within 24 to 48 hours.