Dimapur June 14 (MExN): While the middle-class common man is forced to fight out his share, sometimes for days on end, for a single LPG cylinder, VVIPs only have to sent a ‘chit’ demanding 800 cylinders per month per agency thus draining away the quota for general consumers. To add salt to the misery, commercial establishments like hotels consume about 200 LPG cylinders per day and that which is taken from the domestic quota reserved for the common man, rather than from the commercial quota set aside for business establishments. No wonder the all too frequent scarcity of LPG cylinders.
The Naga Council taking serious cognizance of these various discrepancies in LPG distribution system in Dimapur, has asked all VVIP not to issue ‘chits’ randomly in the interest of the public and instead look into the matter to address the grievances of the consumers. Resolutions to this effect were taken by the Naga Council at a meeting with LPG Gas Agencies on June 14 at the council’s office, Dimapur where the distributors expressed the various problems they are facing in regard to poor services, supply, scarcity as well as random exploitation of quotas stipulated.
The distributors informed that VVIPS requests ‘chits’ for approximately 800 LPG cylinders per month per agency (i.e., 800x 4x1=3200 cylinders) thereby draining the quota meant for general consumers. Hotels and likened commercial establishments consume about 200 cylinders per day from the domestic quota instead of the commercial quota as well, it was informed. Other problems for the inadequate LPG for the commoner is the poor service and delay of LPG supply from gas plants as well as vehicles using LPG instead the normal petrol or diesel, it was informed.
The Naga Council taking these into account has decided to approach the Nagaland Government, and the existing Bottling Plant in Chumukedima to increase its production from its present 6 truckloads (1 truckload =306 cylinders) per day in a single shift to two shifts in a day. Also, Commercial establishments have been asked to procure LPG on the commercial quota in order to relieve distribution while LPG agencies in Dimapur have been directed to provide Home Delivery to consumers with immediate effect. The agencies may either arrange their own system or provide services through authorized agents by realizing extras home delivery charges. Agencies have also been directed to introduce more counters for both men and women.
The Council also urged the administration to look into the matter of black-marketing of LPG cylinders and take necessary preventive measures. The Joint meeting further resolved to write to concern gas plants to address the issues/grievances of LPG Agencies of Dimapur for early action.
