Double cylinder initiative in limbo
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2015:
Even though the IOC has launched a new initiative of providing double cylinder connection to LPG consumers who have been provided single cylinders, the same initiative remains in limbo in Manipur.
According to some consumers, LPG distributors maintained that upgrading to double cylinder connection from single cylinder connection would require around Rs 2000 .
This is contradictory to IOC which said that upgrading to double cylinder connection would cost around Rs 1200.Even as some consumers offered to pay Rs 2000 for upgrading to double cylinder connections, distributors have been resorting to dilly dallying tactics without giving a definite date.
On the other hand, more and more complaints against the inability to provide 12 refills in a year have been coming forward.
One LPG consumer from Lilong said that she was waiting for the arrival of her booking date to take LPG refill when subsidy of one refill was transferred to her bank account.
After booking for LPG refill on December 8 last year, the consumer was waiting for several months for the arrival of his booking date when the subsidy entered her bank account.
On being enquired at the distributor, no proper response was given.
It was already remarked that implementation of DBTL scheme which was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Finance and IOC would be problematic in areas where there is poor internet connectivity and net banking services.
Contrary to these expectations, there have been many instances of transferring subsidy amounts in the bank accounts of consumers who were yet to take refills.
At the same time, there were cases of some consumers taking three refills in a single month while many consumers have to wait for months to get a single refill, not to mention about sale of subsidized LPG refills in black markets.