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Himachal to make available LPG gas heaters for winter

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to make available China-made LPG gas heaters instead of coal in high-altitude tribal belts, where mercury dips to as low as minus 25 degree Celsius during peak winter.

The decision to replace coal by LPG gas heater from this year has been taken from the environment point of view. About 1000 heaters have been dispatched to tribal areas of Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba for purchase by government offices, Managing Director of State Civil Supplies Corporation Daljeet Singh Dogra said.

However, Mr. Dogra said that government establishments and schools are yet to pick up the heaters from the State civil supplies office as only two dozen heaters have been purchased so far because of complaints of “inferior quality” of items.

Rejecting the complaints, Mr. Dogra said, “The LPG gas heaters have been tested and are of good quality. The complaints are unreasonable and are being fanned by some private suppliers who could not get supply order.”

He said that a letter has been dispatched to Deputy Commissioners of these three tribal districts to expedite the purchase in view of intensification of cold.

In Pangi sub-division of Chamba district, coal will also be provided along with LPG heaters this winter in view of excessive cold condition there, he said.

Coal and gas heaters would be made available in a ratio of 50:50 in Pangi, Mr. Dogra said, adding that 6500 quintal of coal has already reached there.

Sources in the office of Resident Commissioner of Pangi told the agency over the phone that 12,000 quintal of steam coal and 300 gas heaters for government offices, schools and other government institutions have been kept ready to meet the challenge of winter. -- PTI

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