No LPG Smart Card as of now, says Petroleum Sec

Mumbai, Sep 29 (UNI) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary M S Srinivasan today said the introduction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Smart Card is presently not under consideration by the Government.

Mr Srinivasan, who interacted with mediapersons after the presentation ceremony of 'Oil Industry Safety Awards 2006-07' organised by Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), did not elaborate as to why the Government has kept the introduction of the LPG Smart Card scheme at the backburner.

Dismissing reports of a proposal to introduce dual pricing for income-tax payers (PAN card holder) and non income-tax payers or withdrawing the subsidies for PAN card holders, Mr Srinivasan said, there was no such proposal or information released by the Government authorities.

The Central Secretary pointed that the purpose of the LPG Smart Card was to ensure and to monitor the consumption of the commodity as also to locate the absorption of the product at a proper place.

''If the commodity is found to be diverted elsewhere we will consider to introduce Smart Cards but as of now it is not under consideration,'' Mr Srinivasan asserted.

UNI