CHENNAI: Continuing with its efforts to curb diversion of the heavily subsidised domestic fuel, Indian Oil Corporation has started allowing third party transfer of cooking gas connections.

For the customers it is an opportunity to regularise connections registered in someone else's name.

The transfer, says an official of IOC, is allowed on payment of security deposit (Rs.850 for a cylinder and Rs.100 towards regulator). The existing deposit would have to be forfeited. No such payment or forfeiture would be there in case of transfer to legal heir.

The scheme is for customers using connections in the names of their friends and relatives. It is expected to come as a big relief to them, particularly in the backdrop of curbs imposed as part of the drive against diversion since September. More so, as only those using connections in their names are covered under the third party accident insurance cover obtained by distributors, says the IOC official.

The drive against diversion saw re-introduction of the 21-day gap between booking and refill supply, endorsement in ration cards and curbs on issue of new connections. Many oil industry officials say households with multiple connections divert gas to commercial establishments.

Genuine customers irked

The exercise, says the chief coordinator of Tiruvallur District Consumer Information Centre T. Sadagopan, is proving to be an irritant to genuine customers.

It was not fair to insist on endorsement years after the national oil companies went on a marketing binge and issued connections based address proofs. But since large households have greater requirement they have availed multiple connections, including under the tatkal scheme, at a premium. Much to their dismay, they are discovering that could get only one of the connections endorsed and run the risk of losing others.

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