The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : People warned against misusing LPG cylinders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

People warned against misusing LPG cylinders

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, SEPT. 22. With scarcity of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders affecting thousands of households in the district, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has warned vehicle owners and hoteliers against misusing the cylinders meant for domestic use.

S.E. Mahadevappa, Deputy Director of the department, Mysore, said the State Government would invoke the provisions under Section 3 of the LPG Order, 2000 to initiate penal action against such misuse.

Though inadequate supply by petroleum companies is said to be the main reason for the scarcity, the authorities concerned have noticed that cylinders meant for supply to households are being increasingly used for running vehicles and for cooking in hotels and restaurants.

Cylinders meant for domestic use are priced low owing to the subsidy from the Centre. With many people retrofitting their vehicles with conversion kits to make them run on gas, these cylinders are being misused. Hoteliers are supposed to use only cylinders meant for commercial use which are not subsidised.

The gas agencies have been warned of action if they are found selling the cylinders meant for domestic purposes for use in retrofitted vehicles or hotels.

Mr. Mahadevappa said the department convened a meeting of the representatives of gas agencies here on September 14 following the scarcity. When it was found that the supply of cylinders from petroleum companies was not sufficient to meet the demand, it was decided to urge the officials concerned to take action to restore the normal supply.

Consumers' plight

Many households are forced to depend on kerosene for cooking. Some are even buying commercial LPG cylinders. People complained that the agencies were not even entertaining their requests to book a cylinder. "When I called up the agency to book a cylinder, I was told to wait for five days to make the booking,'' Sheela, a housewife, said.

With the waiting list becoming unwieldy, the agencies are refusing to make fresh bookings.

Those accepting the bookings deliver the cylinders after about 10 days.

Officials in the department said the consumer had the right to get a cylinder immediately if the booking was made 21 days after the previous delivery of a cylinder.

A few consumers say that the scarcity began when lorry owners went on strike a little over a month ago.

The scarcity was attributed to the agencies' inability to stock enough number of cylinders.

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