LPG distributors cry out against monetary demands, shortage of cooking gas supply
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2024: Many LPG distributors are on the verge of closing shop as they cannot meet the demand of cooking gas by customers and the 'unbearable' monetary demands coming from different organisations.

Under the banner "Against Monetary Demands & Inadequate LPG Supply", LPG distributors operating in Imphal staged a sit-in protest at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai today and aired their grievances.

Placards with inscriptions "Allow us to render our services freely without any threats/diktats in public interest", "Stop blaming LPG distributors", "Please do not make unbearable demands" and "No supplies from Indane bottling plant no home delivery service to customers" were displayed during the protest demonstration.

LPG distributors cry out against monetary demands, shortage of cooking gas supply

Speaking to the media, one LPG distributor Okram Budhi said that they are unable to provide a fair amount of cooking gas to customers due to the sizeable reduction in supply of refilled LPG cylinders from the bottling plant at Sekmai.

Saying that monetary demand from different organisations is another issue which the LPG distributors have been facing since the past many months, he added that they may have no other options than to close their establishments if the issues of monetary demands and the dearth of refilled LPG cylinders persist.

Budhi continued that there is disruption in the supply chain of refilled LPG cylinders due to the problem along Imphal-Jiribam Highway.

Further stating that they were able to provide enough LPG cylinders (refilled) till March 2024, he added that there is mounting pressure on them to provide cooking gas.

Continuing that LPG distributors, however, don't have the resources to meet the demand of the customers if there is disruption in the supply chain, he added they could not render customer services satisfactorily as there is sizeable reduction in the quantity of refilled LPG cylinders they get from the bottling plant at Sekmai.

Customers think a major portion of refilled LPG cylinders have been diverted to black market, Budhi said.

Clarifying that there is disruption in supply of cooking gas due to the transportation issue along Imphal-Jiribam Highway, he reiterated that the quantity of refilled LPG cylinders from the bottling plant at Sekmai is very less when compared to what they used to get.

It is the violence in Jiribam and the pathetic conditions of Imphal-Jiribam Highway which disrupt the transportation of goods and fuel including the LPG tanker trucks, he said and added that the disruption in the supply of cooking gas is not their fault.

Claiming that escort parties of transporters were removed on multiple occasions, he added that the situation is still not conducive for the transporters to take Imphal-Dimapur road.

The supply of cooking gas to customers is not completely halted but there is a backlog of two-three months, he said.