Karnataka - Madikeri   

Misuse of domestic LPG cylinders creates scarcity

Staff Correspondent

Cars, vans and autorickshaws use them ignoring safety

Long wait: People lining up at a gas agency to collect domestic LPG cylinders in Madikeri.

Madikeri: Despite measures to prevent use of LPG cylinders meant for domestic purposes by non-domestic users, the practice continues in Kodagu. An artificial scarcity has been created thanks to illegal supply of LPG cylinders meant for domestic cooking to vehicle users. People are seen standing in long queues outside the LPG distributor’s office in Madikeri. The 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinders have found their way to hotels, restaurants, canteens, hostels, lodges, industries and other non-domestic set ups. Cars, vans and autorickshaws use domestic LPG cylinders ignoring the serious consequences and violation of regulations.

In some cases, cards used to buy LPG cylinder once in three months have been misused.

The minimum period to book a fresh cylinder is 21 days. This is the reason for the short supply, a distributor here said who wished to remain anonymous. “We have quotas fixed for each month, we cannot go beyond it,” he said. That is the reason why people go to the distributor’s office or godown to buy cylinders directly. The practice of pumping gas from a full LPG cylinder into an empty cylinder is also thriving in Madikeri.

Oil companies have been incurring losses owing to subsidy being given on LPG cylinders. Domestic customers enjoyed as much as Rs. 168 subsidy on each cylinder. The Ministry Petroleum and Natural Gas has been issuing warnings over the misuse yet it is not enforced. Even when enforced political pressure on officials who organise raid is aid to be preventing any action against the offenders.

Use of a domestic LPG in a vehicle can not only cause injury or even death to the occupants but also damage the vehicles.

Besides, it could attract the provisions of law with severe penalties and imprisonment up to seven years. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav told The Hindu on Thursday that checks would have to be done at the distributors’ ; level. He instructed the Department of Food and Civil Supplies officials to coordinate with the RTO and the police to crack down on illegal users.

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