Illegal gas cylinders on sale at a Gaya market. Picture by Suman

Gaya, March 10: The crisis of LPG cylinders in Gaya district, especially in Gaya town, has left consumers at their wits’ end. Consumers have failed to get refilled cylinders, months after booking them.

At present, there are nine agencies, including five agencies of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), three of Bharat Petroleum and one of Hindustan Petroleum, in Gaya town area with nearly 80,000 consumers. To deal with the situation, Gaya district magistrate Bandana Preyashi has also issued an order to supply LPG-refilled cylinders to consumers within 48 hours of booking.

However, it seems to be a difficult task.

A LPG dealer said: “The monthly quota of supply to gas agencies has reduced now. When the BJP was in power at the Centre, a gas agency with a consumer base exceeding 12,000 used to get a supply up to 40 truckloads of refilled LPG cylinders, each containing 306 cylinders. But now, a gas agency gets 27 to 30 trucks a month.”

He added illegal refilling of small and commercial cylinders is behind the crisis. Though sale of small cylinders is banned under Gas Cylinder Rule, 1981, several shops in the township continue to sell them openly. These cylinders, which are mostly bought by students and persons without valid LPG connections, need refilling, the dealer said. The cylinders, which come in 2kg, 4kg and 5kg sizes, are refilled at illegal points like Tekari Road, Purani godown, Rajendra Ashram, Koiribari, Ramna, Mangala Gauri among others.

Illegal refilling of 19kg commercial cylinders from the regular 14.2kg cylinders is also rampant. The 19kg cylinders cost more than Rs 1,300 and are linked to the international crude price, the rate of which varies every day. On the other hand, the 14.2kg cylinders cost Rs 356 because of subsidy.

The dealer said: “In such a situation, it is difficult to ensure the timely delivery of domestic cylinders. Persons involved in illegal refilling of small and commercial cylinders also pressurise the vendors and take the refilled cylinders.” The possibility of the vendors being involved in the blackmarketeering of LPG cylinders cannot be ignored too, the dealer added.

But the worst sufferer in the whole situation is the genuine consumer who is left waiting for a refilled cylinder for months.

Pratik, a consumer of Saraswati Gas Agency, said: “I had booked a cylinder on September 14 last year. In spite of several reminders, I am yet to get a refilled cylinder.” Another consumer of the agency Ashish Kumar Sinha said: “There is no guarantee we will get a refilled cylinder even if we go to the godown. People start queuing up from early morning. If one is late, there is always the chance to return empty-handed.” Sinha has been waiting for a cylinder since January 6 this year.

Gaya Sadar sub-divisional officer Paritosh Kumar said: “I had ordered the lodging of FIRs against the owners of SR and Heena gas agencies for the delay in supply of LPG-refilled cylinders. I also recommended the sealing of the Saraswati Gas Agency godown for not conforming to norms.” He said action would be taken against the shopowners. IOC area sales officer Rajendra Das said: “We provide only 5kg cylinders to some customers. But, the sale of small cylinders in the open market is completely illegal.”