"Treat cooking gas like a PDS item "
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 16 2016 :
The Government should treat subsidised cooking gas like a PDS item and similar degree of importance should be given to LPG as done in the case of PDS items, said one Imocha.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Imocha said that the Government has been paying special attention in order to ensure that PDS items like rice, sugar and kerosene are available to public at subsidised rates.
When transporters could not bring the State's allotted quota of PDS items in time, the State Government lobbied hard with the Government of India and brought the State's allotted quota of PDS items even after expiry of the transportation period.
The Government ought to pay similar attention to LPG too.
It is the duty of the elected Government to ensure that the people of Manipur get their due share of subsidised LPG from the Government of India.
The sustained campaign being carried out by The Sangai Express regarding irregularities in distribution of LPG refills has brought many changes.
Both supply and distribution of LPG refills have improved considerably.
Many top ranking IOC officials came to Imphal and inspected LPG distribution and other related issues.
The Government is no longer sitting idle.
It has initiated certain measures in association with IOC in order to streamline LPG distribution and plug in loopholes.
The Chief Secretary too has been pursuing the matter with relevant officials of the Central Government.
Imocha opined that stationing a few top officials at IOC's Divisional Retail Sales Office at Imphal would be very helpful.
Supply and distribution of LPG is not satisfactory on account of shortfalls in transportation.
LPG could not be shipped in to the adequate quantity due to volatile law and order situation.
As such, the Government need to take care of the law and order situation with a vision, Imocha said.
One consumer of Jemon Gas, Singjamei said that he got only two refills last financial year adding that he is unlikely to get more than two refills this financial year too.
"Although bookings were done on time, we have to wait for months before refills were delivered.
With no other option left, we bought LPG refills from black markets", said the LPG consumer on condition of anonymity.
One consumer of MM Gas, RIMS Road from Ayangpalli dismissed the claim of MM Gas that all consumers who made their bookings on December 31 or earlier have been delivered refills as a blatant lie.
He contended that refills have been delivered to only those consumers who made their bookings in October or earlier.
Official records say that MM Gas issued refills to all consumers who made their bookings on January 14 or earlier .
Altogether 10475 consumers who made their bookings after January 14 are awaiting delivery of refills.
One consumer of Thoubal Gas Agency said that the distributor has not been distributing refills for the past one month.
He decried that he got only two refills during the last financial year.
Although Thoubal Gas Agency is rated poor, official records claim that all consumers who made their bookings on December 22 or earlier have been issued refills while 6567 consumers who made their bookings after December 22 have been awaiting delivery of refills.
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