Posers raised on LPG delivery charge
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 24 2022: Many LPG consumers have questioned whether the home delivery charge of domestic LPG refills (14.2 Kg capacity) should be uniform or generalised irrespective of the distances between the LPG distributors' godowns and residences of consumers.

Talking with The Sangai Express, some LPG distributors and the Imphal Divisional Retail Sales Office of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) said that certain anomalies are committed in delivering subsidised LPG refills to consumers and also in the process of giving new LPG connections.

As per the IOCL's instruction, LPG distributors should ensure delivery of LPG refills to the homes of consumers and the delivery charge fixed by the IOCL is Rs 26.60 for each LPG refill of 14.2 Kg.

Posers raised on LPG delivery charge

However, as majority of the LPG distributors found it not viable to deliver LPG refills at the delivery charge fixed by the IOCL, the home delivery service remained suspended for many years, said the sources.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic made home delivery of LPG refills compulsory as there was strict instruction from Government authorities to avoid crowding at LPG distribution points.

The delivery charge was fixed at Rs 100 per refill after consultation between district administrations and LPG distributors of their respective districts.

The district administrations also issued necessary orders to this effect.

After the home delivery charge was hiked to Rs 100 per refill, the IOCL gave instruction to all LPG distributors to distribute LPG refills to consumers only through home delivery system and do away with the earlier practice of booking and distributing refills at their offices.

Subsequent upon the IOCL's instruction, LPG distributors have been distributing refills to consumers through home delivery system.

Now many quarters have started questioning whether the home delivery charge should be generalised to Rs 100 for all consumers even if many of the consumers are residing within half a Kilometre of the godowns of their LPG distributors.

The LPG home delivery charge was hiked to Rs 100 per refill on the general assumption that most consumers are residing far away from the godowns of their respective LPG distributors, said the sources.

Nonetheless, there are some LPG distributors which are charging Rs 80 as home delivery fee.

Following the introduction of home delivery system as a compulsory service, some distributors have entrusted the same task to third parties.

Some of these third parties have been charging more than Rs 100 for delivery of a refill.

Some vehicles which used to sell water are now engaged in home delivery of LPG refills in the name of a third party and these vehicles do not display names of LPG distributors, according to the sources.

Even the IOCL's Divisional Sales Office is unable to check such defiant and anomalous practices of some LPG distributors and their third parties, said the sources.

Although there were just around 40 LPG distributors in the State, there are now around 100 LPG distributors after counting project distributors.

One principal reason for increasing the number of LPG distributors is to make LPG refills available readily at places closest to consumers like other essential commodities.

However, some LPG distributors which are located in far off and remote places have been seeking consumers and giving new connections at Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur etc.

Even though the IOCL's Divisional Sales Office is aware of this practice, it is not very successful in checking this practice, the sources added.