'Forget 12 even 4 refills tough'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 01 2015 :
Responding to a survey conducted by The Sangai Express on whether LPG consumers are getting their due shares of subsidized LPG refills, one LPG consumer from Mayang Imphal has disclosed certain grievances.
The consumer, on condition of anonymity, said that despite the provision for 12 refills in a year, they have to struggle hard to get four refills in a year.
LPG refills are sold openly in some shops at Mayang Imphal.
20 to 30 LPG cylinders are put on sale before the shops at a time.
However, no Government authority has initiated any step so far against sale of LPG refills at grocery and other shops.
About a month back, LPG was sold at these shops at the rate of Rs 2000 per refill.
These refills are divided into groups viz; full and not full.
While full LPG refills are now sold at Rs 1800, those with lesser weights are sold at Rs 1600 .
On the other hand, LPG consumers of Mayang Imphal, Samurou, Yumnam Huidrom and surrounding areas have to wait for several turns to get one subsidized LPG refill.
Money charged at the time of applying new connections varies from one consumer to another, and no proper receipts were issued.
For obtaining a duplicate blue book, one was charged Rs 300 to Rs 500, said the disgruntled consumer.
People of Mayang Imphal and surrounding areas have certain knowledge regarding the places from where the LPG refills got diverted and sold at those three/four shops.
Re-registration of an existing connection against a new name costs Rs 2000.A random survey conducted at Imphal found that the practice of selling LPG refills at shops has declined considerably.
Likewise, use of subsidized LPG refills in hotels and eateries has also declined.
Nonetheless, subsidized LPG refills are still used in some hotels and commercial places.
It still demands a thorough investigation to find out from where the LPG refills got diverted, whether it is from Sekmai bottling plant or LPG distributors.