Of DBTL and misuse of cooking gas : Cracking down on the cartel
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 16, 2015 -

cooking gas LPG Cylinder :: Pix - TSE

This is probably not the magic formula, but the intention of the Government is clear.

In introducing the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL), the Government is sending out the message that it is determined to tackle the issue of unauthorised use of LPG, particularly subsidised LPG or cooking gas made available to the consumers.

The plan or scheme itself sounds pretty easy to understand and it is mystifying why the Government earlier had never given a thought on implementing the same or something similar to this.

According to the new scheme or DBTL envisaged by the Government, all registered consumers would have to first open a bank account, get hold of the form, fill in the relevant information and get the transaction done through the bank.

As already demonstrated, this can go a long way in curbing multiple connections enjoyed by any ‘enterprising’ consumer.

Eliminating bogus consumers and one need not go into the details to spell out how the presence of bogus consumers can help those out to make easy money at the cost of the genuine and true consumers.

Moreover this will also help in curbing misuse or unauthorised usage of domestic LPG in commercial outlets, one of the major reasons for the shortage of the same to the genuine consumers.

That some elements were making easy money and laughing all the way to the bank can be established from the fact that even though filled LPG cylinders may not be available with the gas agencies, the same are available in plenty in the black market.

Invariably the black market booms whenever there is a bandh on the National Highways and it is not without reason why numerous newspapers in Manipur have regularly carried snap shots of filled LPG cylinders sold at the road side kiosks.

That there must be a well charted out network of players is a given and it is only right that the Government should take up some steps to check their activities.

Something like the fuel cartel that exists in the State. Petrol pumps dry but fuel being sold at exorbitant rates in the black or grey market is not something new in Manipur.

Likewise, filled LPG cylinders too have been sold in the black market for long and the DBTL scheme is a step towards checking the activities of the black marketers.

How effective this will be is something only time can tell but it is interesting to note that the sale of non-subsidised LPG has increased in the last two/three months.

A testimony that there existed a number of fake customers laying their hands on the subsidised cooking gas.

It is also open knowledge that numerous commercial outlets such as hotels and eateries have been using the subsidised LPG cylinders, thereby impacting on the supply chain of the same to the genuine customers.

It is encouraging to see the Government waking up to the need of addressing the ‘artificial shortage’ of cooking gas and perhaps to complement the new measure taken up, the Government may toy with the idea of legislating a tough law to book anyone found misusing the subsidised cooking gas to make a fast buck.