PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
The district administration’s stern steps to rein in black marketing of LPG cylinders seem to be yielding results in Dehradun. Besides, the timely home delivery to the consumers have eased the looming crisis further.
As cylinder bookings are being done regularly, the number of complaints keeps coming down. When the problem had started, complaints had gone up to 400, but on Monday the control room received only 12 LPG supply complaints.
On the directions of district magistrate Savin Bansal, Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been formed in different parts of the district. These teams are inspecting gas agencies and monitoring the demand, supply and distribution of LPG cylinders.
The district supply officer (DSO), K K. Aggarwal said that around 500 commercial cylinders have been supplied on the day and efforts are being made to reduce the backlog.
The officials further said that the complaints received through helpline numbers and WhatsApp are being addressed quickly by the District Food and Civil Supplies department through the control room.
On Monday, about 15,020 domestic and 512 commercial cylinders were provided to the consumers. However, a backlog of around 90,000 domestic cylinders still remains. At present, 35,262 domestic cylinders and 1,313 commercial cylinders are available in stock.
Consumers asked not to crowd LPG warehouses
NAINITAL: With LPG uncertainty persisting amid the deepening West Asia volatility, the general manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, Vijay Nath Shukla said that the consumers would be provided refill cylinders only after they obtained the Digital Authentication Code (DAC). “This is as per the instructions of Indian Oil Corporation. They must first book cylinders from their registered mobile numbers and thereafter, they will receive DAC,” he said, adding that the mandatory gas booking process in urban areas would be completed after the lock-in period of 25 days was over.
He urged all gas consumers to complete the booking process using their registered mobile numbers and then receive the refill through home delivery. “They should not be an unnecessary crowd at gas warehouses and offices. The gas agencies will refill gas for all consumers through a door-to-door process,” he added.
Meanwhile, the domestic LPG cylinders are being used by commercial establishments clandestinely across the city to continue with their operation amid the commercial cylinder crunch. Several vetoes are now circulating on the social media platforms purportedly showing domestic LPGs being used in restaurants secretly-something that raises question on the efficacy of the administrative arrangements made to rein in such a trend.
The regional food supply officer, Surendra Singh Bisht said that he had received such complaints over the phone. “We have taken this matter seriously. A campaign will be launched soon and an investigation will be conducted,” he said and added warningly that if the use of domestic cylinders is found in any commercial establishments, legal action will be taken against them.
