The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Gas refill supply norm still appears to be 21 days, complaints show

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Wednesday, Mar 02, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Gas refill supply norm still appears to be 21 days, complaints show

Special Correspondent

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited launches mega LPG safety campaign

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

Safety first:Swaran Singh, Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection department, inaugurates the LPG safety campaign of BPCL, in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: The State Consumer Helpline (28592828) continues to receive complaints from cooking gas customers that their booking for refill cylinder is not accepted before 21 days from the date of previous supply.

This despite the Petroleum Secretary's assurance, in October last year, that the oil companies would not insist on maintaining a three-week gap between two refills, said Ka. Balachandran, Commissioner, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection.

He was participating in the launch function of the mega LPG safety campaign of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) here on Monday.

The households found it difficult as the cylinders were supplied only some days after the 21 days gap.

Creating awareness

Underscoring the need for creating awareness about LPG safety among the consumers, especially in the context of some households having more than two cylinders, Mr. Balachandran said there were also complaints about delivery boys demanding tips.

The cooking gas distributors should address this issue.

Swaran Singh, Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection department, flagged off the safety campaign vehicle and released a CD on LPG safety.

Describing the campaign as “timely, prompt action”, he said safety instructions should be given in a simple way.

The State, he added, has got the maximum LPG connections. It was only the State where people were given free LPG connections.

Though the number of accidents, as compared to other parts of the country, was minimum, there was need to take LPG safety campaign to rural areas.

Kurian P. Chandy, Regional LPG Manager (South) of BPCL, said the campaign in Chennai was a pilot project and it would be conducted in other parts of the State too.

Increase in accidents

In the last few years, there was a slight increase in the number of accidents in households, particularly because of the proliferation of LPG to rural areas.

Noting that the idea for the safety campaign came from Mr. Swaran Singh and Mr. Balachandran, he said it is duty of the company to ensure safety of the customers. Bharat Gas distributors would be involved in the programme. After Chennai, the company would conduct the campaign in Coimbatore.

A. Ramanakumar, Territory Manager (LPG), Chennai, of BPCL said the well designed van equipped with an LCD would cover 2,000 km in and around the city in the next 40 days.

It would cover 20,000 customers.

The company would also distribute 1,500 CDs to multi-storeyed residential complexes and residents' welfare associations, consumers groups, schools and colleges to spread the message on LPG safety.

Skits would be staged as part of the campaign.

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