The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Auto LPG continues to be in short supply

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Auto LPG continues to be in short supply

Staff Reporter

Outlets refuse to supply fuel for the second day

Only company-operated outlets are dispensing the fuel
Government blamed for the present situation

BANGALORE: Many autorickshaw drivers in the city found it hard to get LPG as the outlets refused to supply the fuel for the second day. The auto LPG dealers are continuing with their “no purchase” campaign demanding security to their employees.

The dealer-operated outlets are not supplying the fuel, while company-operated stations are dispensing the fuel.

Nearly 70,000 autorickshaws in the city are running on LPG fuel. With the 40-odd auto LPG dealers not dispensing the fuel, the autorickshaw drivers were relying on the few outlets run by oil companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. “But these outlets are not in a position to handle the demand. I hope to get some fuel here,” said S. Premkumar, who was one among the autorickshaw drivers in a queue at a company operated outlet on Hosur Road.

Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban) M.A. Sadiq has called for a meeting of auto LPG dealers, oil companies and representatives of autorickshaw drivers unions on Wednesday. “Though I am not the authority concerned, I am taking this initiative to end the impasse,” Mr. Sadiq told The Hindu.

Hard hit

The autorickshaw drivers have been hit hard by the campaign carried out by the LPG dealers. “We are facing the brunt of the campaign being carried out for the act of some mischievous elements. Our livelihood depends on autorickshaws. We have been forced to stop running our vehicles,” president of Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Auto Chalakara Vedike B. Chandrashekara said.

Mr. Chandrashekara said drivers can switch over to petrol. “This means an additional expenditure of Rs. 1,000 to ready the engine. How many can afford this sum. Using petrol will mean lesser mileage and additional fuel cost,” he said. “Why are the drivers being forced to pay extra?” he questioned.

The auto LPG dealers, under the aegis of Bangalore Petroleum Dealers’ Association, are on protest after some autorickshaw drivers allegedly attacked LPG dispensing outlets in Sunkadakatte, Richmond Road and St. Marks Road alleging cheating while filling gas.

The dealers said the employees were at the receiving end of autorickshaw drivers’ fury.

Bhushan Narang, president of the association, said with the fuel being in the form of gas it was difficult for LPG outlet dealers to convince consumers about the quantity filled in the vehicles.

The association has asked the Government to ensure proper security to the outlets and also take steps for sealing, calibration and checking LPG dispensing pumps to ensure proper delivery of gas.

Blame

The autorickshaw drivers blame the Government for the present situation. “It should have put the system in place to check the complaints of tampering before making the use of auto LPG mandatory four years ago,” Mr. Chandrashekara said.

The Union Government is yet to notify the Department of Legal Metrology about the specifications for ascertain quantity of the auto LPG, which is necessary for dealing with complaints. “We are hopeful of a notification from the Centre by next month,” N. Prakash, the Controller of Legal Metrology, told The Hindu.

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