KOCHI: Even as the LPG distributors claim that there is no delay in delivering LPG cylinders, the consumers are left in the lurch with no option but to buy it from the grey market. About 15 to 20 domestic LPG cylinders are diverted from a single gas agency every alternative day to the grey market, which has led to unending wait for the consumers. The consumers having HP, Bharat and Indane connections are a worried lot as they have to wait for about 30 to 40 days after booking for cylinders. However, the officials of the three companies denied the charge. HPCL sales manager Tajib said the company had been supplying cylinders regularly but the delay was on the distributors’ side. Hotels and restaurants are the main culprits in promoting the diversion of LPG cylinders. The gas agencies are also equally at fault for promoting the grey market. A person running a hotel in Kaloor says he buys a domestic cylinder from the grey market at a price of Rs 650. “I have to pay the amount as the cylinder comes to me after changing hands. For a commercial LPG cylinder, I have to pay more than Rs 1,000,” he said. Noting that the weight of a domestic LPG cylinder is 14.5 kg and that of a commercial cylinder 19 kg, he said: “When buying a commercial cylinder, I have to pay an additional Rs 400 for just 4.5 kg more. And this is the reason why most of the hoteliers prefer to buy domestic cylinders from the grey market.” It is not just the hotel owners who are paying Rs 650 for a cylinder but a lot of consumers are also left with no option but to buy them from the grey market at a higher price. District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that raids would be held more frequently on the hotels and also on the gas agencies. “Apart from conducting raids on small hotels, we will also search major hotels,” he said. On the thriving grey market, he said stringent action would be taken against those who are involved in the illegal distribution of LPG cylinders. The recent delay in supply was only because of the holidays and the bandh. The distributors had said that there would not be a delay of more than 25 days. And if there is more delay, the consumers can approach the authorities at the collectorate, Sheik Pareeth said. Civil Supplies Director M S Jaya said the Vigilance team of the Supplyco would be made more alert.
Comments
0 comment