Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Gas agencies come under fire

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The members of various residents’ associations in the district have come up strongly against liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or cooking gas agencies for their alleged involvement in diverting gas cylinders meant for domestic consumption.

At a discussion convened by Asianet Cable Vision, in association with the Trivandrum Residents’ Apex Council, in the city on Friday, the members alleged that cooking gas meant for domestic use was sold in the ‘black market’ at exorbitant prices to hotels and restaurants.

As per cooking gas distribution rules, cylinders should be distributed to consumers within 21 days of the booking date. “However, there are agencies which fail to deliver the cylinder to consumers even after two months,” said Amaravila Ramakrishnan Nair, president of the council.

The consumers alleged that the gas agencies often adopted an indifferent attitude towards their persistent requests for a timely delivery. “Most of the time, they do not even bother to pick up the phone,” said Yesudas, vice-president of the council. The council had already given representations on the issue to the District Collector, he added. The members also raised the need to device a mechanism to ensure the accurate weight of cooking gas cylinders distributed to households. Ajayalal, social activist and a resident of Peringamala, said the rate charged by the gas agencies for cylinders varied.

While the current price of a cooking gas cylinder is Rs.302, the agencies often demand up to Rs.30 more from the consumers. As per the gas distribution rules, there is no additional charge on gas cylinders delivered with a radius of 5 km. For 15 km, the delivery charge has been fixed at Rs.21, for 20 km Rs.26, for 25 km Rs.31 and for 36 km Rs.36.

Mr. Ramakrishnan Nair said the council had urged the State government to limit the number of gas connections under each agency to below 15,000.

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