Unfit LPG cylinders find way into houses
Truck drivers stop ferrying LPG
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 18 2011:
About 816 expired and condemned cooking gas cylinders (LPG) have made it into the supply circulation again via fraudulent means at the cost of lives and property, said Assam Petroleum Majdoor Union secretray, Naorem Dilip Singh today.
A blame game over this has resulted in distributors stalling the distribution of LPG until the issue is sorted out.
According to LPG cylinder distributors' truck drivers, gas cylinders have a limited life span after which they are condemned to be taken out of circulation by way of public auction after having removed the safety valves and after boring holes in them to render them unusable.
A concerned driver said that the condemned cylinders are meant to be scrapped and process for recycling but they have been found recirculated in the market after minor repairs following public auction by the plant authority.
The 816 condemned cylinder which have been allegedly recirculated in the market was auctioned by the Sekmai bottling plant in north Imphal some four months ago.
A person from Langol in Imphal reportedly bought all the cylinders and recirculated them minor repairs.
While transporters and agencies of LPG have been engaging in a blame game, the Sekmai plant manager, CR Das said that the onus lies with the agencies to replace all condemned cylinders and prevent them making it back into the market.
A report from the company also sent out a warning to consumers to be vigilant about these expired cylinders that are making it into houses because they constitute a serious threat to life and property.
Distribution of LPG is likely be affected in the coming days.