LPG consumers resent poor delivery of cylinders in Kokrajhar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Customers of Indane LPG under Assam Cooperative Society Ltd, Kokrajhar expressed their dismay over the poor delivery of cylinders on Monday. The residents of Kokrajhar have questioned as to why there was scarcity of LPG in Kokrajhar while the Government of Assam was claiming that there was no shortage of cooking gas despite lockdown.

The Assam Cooperative Society Ltd, Kokrajhar, since the first week of April ensured that customers got their LPG cylinders delivered at home after entry of their names, contact number and address during the lockdown period. But there have been complaints that the customers have not received the LPG cylinders ever after a month. But in the black market, LPG cylinders are easily available at the price of Rs 1,200 per cylinder.

Talking to this correspondent at the office of Assam Cooperative Society Ltd on Monday, a consumer of South Tengapara, A. Brahma said he booked delivery of LPG cylinder on April 21 and the official of the society ensured that the cylinder would be delivered to him after 15 days but neither has the cylinder been delivered even after 20 days nor has he received any message. He also alleged that Indane cylinders were available in the black market in Kokrajhar at a cost of Rs 1,200 per cylinder and the cylinders were delivered to homes.

'I have lost my due cylinder for the month of April and it is likely that I will also lose the cylinder due in May if the authority fails to deliver the cylinder within May,' he rued. Many LPG consumers have made similar complaints and most of them have not received their LPG cylinders even after a month. The officials never give a satisfactory reply to explain the delay, alleged the aggrieved LPG consumers. Agitated customers on Monday warned the officials to stop the alleged nexus with black marketeers.

Meanwhile, two officials on duty told the consumers that the cylinders were being distributed ward wise and due to lockdown, they were operating with minimal staff. They said they had to cover area up to Gaurang Tiniali, 8 km from Kokrajhar town, including remote villages, as there was no Indane agency in other places of Kokrajhar. They also said that there were not sufficient vehicles to distribute the cylinders.