CHENNAI: The over four month-long cooking gas crisis in the State may end with an improvement in refill supplies and resumption of across-the-counter release of new connections.

But diversion of the heavily subsidised domestic fuel, which led to the stringent controls on cylinder supply, is continuing, to the discomfort of public sector oil companies. Their decision to clear the waitlist for new connections could be like adding fuel to the fire.

Such an apprehension exists despite the raids launched by the Civil Supplies department on its own and along with the industry, in the past few months against those misusing the 14.2 kg cylinders that cost only Rs. 290 each.

Though seizure of thousands of cylinders from tea stalls, hotels and commercial establishments had a salutary effort and pushed up the sale of 19 kg commercial cylinders, it is not enough to curb the menace, officials of the companies say.

A foolproof system to curb the diversion eludes the industry, a distributor says, pointing out that unscrupulous elements are constantly devising new techniques. A tea stall owner here, on coming to know that a raid was on, took domestic cylinders from the stall and placed them on the pavement outside. When the team enquired, he said an LPG cylinder delivery boy, whose tricycle tyre had got punctured, had left the cylinders there.

It is not just the owners of tea stalls and eateries — many of whom allegedly have multiple cooking gas connections at home — but even customers are allegedly behind the diversion. To prove her genuineness, a customer seeking a new connection also bought a stove. After a couple of days, she started complaining about the performance of the stove and sought to return it.

On enquiry, the distributor found that the customer, who had obtained a certificate from the Civil Supplies Department stating that she did not possess a ration card, was using another connection. Details of the LPG connection in households are available on the card. The certificate, according to the industry sources, is to be issued by the Department only after an inspection of the premises.

Without discounting the role of the delivery staff in the diversion, some officials and distributors underscore the need for an increase in price of the cylinder. Besides discouraging those misusing the domestic fuel, the price increase will promote the use of commercial cylinder, whose price now rules at Rs. 940.

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