Samuel Merigala By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Indane Gas, the largest domestic LPG provider in Chennai, has frozen connections of customers who have apparently not provided their Aadhaar details despite an extension of the deadline for linking the unique identity number (UID) with domestic gas connections to March 31. Customers’ requests for refills are being registered by distributors only after they link their Aadhaar numbers.

Distributors claim connections of customers who had not linked their Aadhaar by Dec 31, 2017, the previously mandated deadline, have been frozen by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and refill requests can be processed only once the accounts are released.

However, IOC denied locking connections of customers who haven’t submitted Aadhaar details. “Only customers who have not submitted Know Your Customer (KYC) details cannot get refills,” said S Kumar, chief area manager, Chennai, IOC, adding that distributors can unblock connections after getting the KYC details.

Distributors, however, say they have no control over freezing and releasing of accounts and only in very few cases are they able to do it with just KYC details.“Despite the new deadline (Mar 31), the system asks for Aadhaar to unblock connections,” claimed S Kamalakannan, manager of an Indane outlet in Thiruvanmiyur, who adds that nearly 30 people come to his office every day regarding this.

Sharun Ichigo, a resident of Adambakkam, says his connection remains blocked even after giving his KYC to the gas agency at Maduvankarai twice. “My mom got a message that our connection was blocked because we did not link Aadhaar. She replied saying the deadline has been extended to Mar 31 but has not got a reply,” he said. The manager at Sabha Gas agency, Maduvankarai, says over 1,000 accounts have been blocked and customers might not get relief by just filling KYC forms.

Hindustan Petroleum, another gas provider, has also been insisting on Aadhaar linkage but has let customers buy cylinders without subsidy if they haven’t provided Aadhaar details.

“We are only asking for KYC forms from customers who are yet to receive their Aadhar card,” said D Suresh, head of the customer service, Chennai region.

Thousands in Karnataka affected

Thousands of LPG customers in Karnataka had connections blocked apparently because they didn’t link Aadhaar. IOC officials said Indane customers were not allowed to book new cylinders post-January 1. On why the SC’s extension of the deadline was not followed, he said the company circular was final

All well in Hyderabad: HPCL official

In Hyderabad, officials say no LPG connections have been terminated so far for non-submission of KYC and Aadh-aar details. HPCL officials clarified that LPG connections would not be terminated. “It does not concern us if KYC & Aadhaar are not linked,” a company official added