Abusing domestic gas for commercial purposes
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 20 2012: With a huge quantity of domestic LPG cylinders given off for use in commercial lines like hotels by top officials of the state government in connivance with IOC officials, rightful consumers in the state are being provided just 4 LPG cylinders as against the supposed 14 LPG cylinders in a year.

According to reliable sources, the rate of a domestic LPG cylinder (standard weight of 14.2 kg) is Rs 425.This type of cylinders is prohibited by law from being used in commercial purposes.

There is separate type of cylinders designed for commercial use.

The commercial LPG cylinders should weight 19 kg and they are provided by the government at the rate of Rs 1500 to 1700 per cylinder.

Instead of using a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder at the cost of Rs 1500 to 1700, a businessman feels it better to get two domestic cylinders at Rs 425 each.

So, with more than thousands of businessmen using the domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes, consumers in Manipur facing the problems of deficiency, sources pointed out.

Sources further revealed that with a large number of businessmen getting hold of a number of gas cards issued by different Gas Agencies, the number of consumers supposedly using domestic LPG gas cylinders in Manipur has reached around 2.93 lakhs.

According to an official of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), who wants not to be identified, there are 2.93 lakh domestic consumers in Manipur and around 1800 to 2000 metric tonnes of LPG are required for these consumers.

However, the state at present gets only 1600 metric tonnes of LPG.

With frequent bandhs and blockades being carried out along National Highways passing through the state, transportation of LPG cylinders from Assam is also hampered.

The official further disclosed that the main reason behind deprivation of their rightful annual shares of 14 LPG cylinders to consumers in Manipur is because of illegal use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes by businessmen.

The state government needs to stop this illegal use of domestic LPG for commercial purposes with the support of IOC.

The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Ministry has given strict order to the concerned authority to find out illegal use of LPG cylinders.

According to the order, there can be no multi connection in a single house and giving false addresses or getting gas connection beyond the jurisdiction of one's district are prohibited, the official added.

Meanwhile, another source disclosed that the storage capacity of Gas Bottling Plant in Sekmai will be extended further and the approval in this regard has been given by the Ministry.

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