Leakage Of LPG Cylinders : Role of IOC & State Government
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 28, 2014 -
LPG cylinders refilled at Sekmai Bottling Plant found leaked :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao
Almost all LPG consumers in Manipur experience leakage of gas cylinders at its valve.
Even though the LPG distribution centres of various Gas Agencies check the cylinders during the time of delivery to customers by putting a small quantity of water on the valve and repair the leaked cylinders manually with pliers, the LPG cylinders issued by the agencies are not reliable due to several reported loopholes at the Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant.
Allegations have galore the media on the improper functioning of the lone bottling plant in Manipur. Incident of leakage of gas cylinders was reportedly rare during the time when cylinders were brought from outside the State.
However, complaints of leakage began to pour in ever since refilling has been done at Sekmai Bottling Plant.
Almost half of the number of cylinders issued to the gas outlets is found to be leaked at the cap which is sealed under the supervision of Indian Oil Corporation.
The caps of majority of the leaked cylinders are found to be worn out. It is assumed that the problem of gas leakage is due to the failure of the IOC to replace worn caps with new ones in time.
Another complaint lodged by consumers is that most cylinders delivered through home delivery are found to be weighing less than the stipulated.
Black marketing of LPG cylinders is also rampant at various places.
Moreover, a number of commercial establishments like hotels, restaurants, chicken centres, canteen, lodge and goldsmith units in the state have been using the domestic LPG cylinders meant for household use at their business houses, thereby creating artificial scarcity of LPG cylinders in Manipur.
Many of the commercial consumers often buy the cylinders from back market. These establishments should get LPG connection as a rightful consumer from the nearby agency and they should not acquire LPG cylinders from black market or in a stealthy manner.
On the other hand, the consumers also need to be aware of the labels imprinted on the neck of the cylinders indicating the validity period for their use.
The LPG Cylinders bore the mark of ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ or ‘D’ which indicate the quarter of a year for use of the cylinders.
It signifies the quarter of the year for which it is bottled. If the given timing is lapse, the valve of the cylinder may become leaked and need for change of valve arises.
If the consumers remain unaware of such information, the distributors may take the advantage of issuing invalidated cylinders.
At the same time, the officials of Consumer Affairs department of State Government and IOC need to take steps to ensure proper bottling of the LPG gas at the Bottling Plant, and also to ensure delivery of unleaked LPG cylinders to consumers.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.