SMSes in English and Kannada by public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), indicating that the consumer will lose subsidy on domestic LPG cylinders because his/her income was beyond ₹10 lakh, created a flutter in Mangaluru as they were received by customers who had opted out of subsidy a decade ago.

The SMS sent on Sunday read: “As per the available income tax records, your (or linked family member’s) gross taxable income exceeds the prescribed limit of ₹ 10 lakh. If you wish to dispute this, please contact the toll free number 18002333555 or register grievance in the link https://vil.Itd/HPGASa/c/HPCLCRM within seven days of receipt of this message. If no response is received within the stipulated period, the LPG subsidy may be disconnected thereafter-HPCL”.

The same SMS in Hindi was received by customers on Monday.

Calls by customers to their gas agency were not answered. After repeated tries, call to the toll free number was answered and the receiver said that the SMS was a general one sent to all HP gas consumers, including those have opted out of LPG subsidy.

As the receiver refused to register the grievance of the consumer getting non-subsidised cylinder, a complaint was registered with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry at the Central Grievances Redressal and Monitoring System., a HP gas consumer said.

A non- subsidy customer from Indane gas also received the same SMS and he posted his grievance on X.

Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies D. Nagaraj said he will take up the issue with the HP gas officials on Tuesday.