A vehicle ferries LPG cylinders in Jamshedpur. File picture

Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Jan. 21: There is an LPG crisis in the state, more so in Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

In the state capital, consumers complained that their cylinders were not being delivered at home for the last three months and they had to fetch them from the distributor’s godown. The dealers on their part argued they did not have enough cylinders to supply.

In Jamshedpur, residents said they had to wait for three weeks for a cylinder to be delivered.

The problem has become so acute that even the administration is worried. “Several people have complained to me about non-delivery of cylinders at home, misbehaviour by the distributor’s employees and so forth,” said Ranchi deputy commissioner K.K. Soan.

On Monday, Soan called a meeting with LPG distributors and asked them to ensure timely home delivery of cylinders. He also warned of action against dealers who flouted norms.

Most consumers claimed the distributors were hoarding and selling the cylinders illegally. At several places across the two cities, small cylinders were up on sale. The LPG in the small cylinders was actually filled from the bigger cylinders meant for domestic consumers, many alleged. “The distributors also sell cylinders to hotels and restaurants at a higher price. That adds to the scarcity,” complained Suresh Sahu, a consumer.

Soan also did not rule out the possibility of dealers resorting to black marketing. “I will get this complaint checked. If caught, stringent action would be taken against such distributors,” he said.

Under pressure from the district administration, members of the LPG Distributors Association (Ranchi) today called on chief minister Shibu Soren. They urged him to ensure supply of more gas cylinders to Ranchi from the various oil companies.

While the actual LPG requirement is 2.10 lakh cylinders in the state capital, dealers claimed only 1.20 lakh cylinders were being supplied. “We urged the CM to set up bottling plants in Ranchi itself. We also have asked him to ensure sufficient supply for the state capital,” said S. Agarwal, president of the distributor’s association.

After being bottled at Jamshedpur, cylinders are brought to the state capital by truck. Due to various reasons such as Naxalite bandhs, many of the trucks were getting held up, Agarwal said.

Oil and gas companies accepted there was a shortage of supply. They, however, promised that supply would become normal in the next couple of days.

“There was some problem with supply of LPG cylinders. We may take another couple of days to ensure regular supply,” said Arun Prasad, area manager, Indian Oil Corporation, in Ranchi.

Senior regional manager of the HPCL in Jamshedpur, Dileep Ray, said the present crisis was due to a shortage of supply of LPG. “The crisis is going to end in the next 5-6 days. This fall in supply is due to closure of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited for maintenance and repair work,” he added.

Concerned over the LPG crisis, activists of the Jamshedpur unit of the Youth Congress Committee today protested at the district collectorate.

In a memorandum addressed to the Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, Jitin Prasad, the activists claimed the crisis was entirely the fault of private gas agencies.

“The crisis is going on from mid-November, but now it has deepened as the agencies are encouraging black marketing. Cooking gas for domestic consumers is being used by roadside hotels and eateries,” said general secretary of committee, Rakesh Kumar Sahu.

He maintained that such illegal use should be completely stopped to ensure that the consumers get relief.