Endless wait

Guwahati, June 2: A thriving black market of LPG cylinders is creating a shortage for consumers, who try every trick in the book to save an ounce of fuel.

An inquiry conducted by the CBI has found that diversion and blackmarketing of LPG cylinders by a section of distributors have aggravated the scarcity of cooking gas in the city.

The CBI has also detected “ghost” or bogus connections against which some LPG distributors are delivering cylinders, which were finding their way into the black market.

An official source said the anti-corruption branch of the CBI carried out the inquiry after receiving complaints about anomalies in LPG distribution in the city leading to artificial crisis causing immense inconvenience to consumers.

Since the crisis hits the city very often, households have to take recourse to some handed-down and some ingenious methods to keep their home fires burning, literally.

The official said there has been a 20 to 30 per cent shortfall in supply of LPG cylinders against demand but this shortage was aggravated manifold because of irregular practices adopted by a section of Indian Oil Corporation-appointed distributors.

“As a result of these malpractices by some dealers and their staff, the genuine consumers are not getting their LPG cylinder within the stipulated time even after standing in queues outside the gas agencies for hours,” the source said.

Consumers said they have lodged complaints with the gas agencies but to no avail. The common excuse handed by the gas agencies is shortfall in supply.

“Consumers are, therefore, forced to procure the LPG cylinder at a much higher price. A domestic LPG cylinder, weighing 14.2 kg, which cost Rs 314 in the city, is being sold at Rs 800 to Rs 900 in the black market,” the source said.

The connivance of LPG distributors and their staff is beyond doubt because when consumers are not getting their LPG refills on time, the cylinders are easily available with the illegal sellers.

The CBI last month seized more than 20 domestic LPG cylinders illegally hoarded for black marketing at a PCO and a grocery shop in the Geeta Nagar area of the city.

The illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders is also a threat to public safety as it could lead to a fire incident.

LPG cylinders ideally should not be handled by untrained persons.

During surprise checks at two LPG distributors in the city, the investigating agency found that they were delivering LPG cylinders against “ghost” or bogus consumers, who actually do not exist.

“It means that these cylinders were being diverted to the black market,” the source said.

The CBI has apprised officials of the IOC about the discrepancies detected in the delivery of LPG cylinders and the onus is now on the gas giant authorities to take appropriate action against the erring distributors.

As these irregularities are going unchecked, it is clear that there are loopholes in the monitoring system of the IOC and the state food and civil supplies department, which are authorised and competent agencies to check such malpractices.

The source said diversion of domestic LPG cylinders to commercial establishments is another major problem.

“Hotels, eateries and rolling mills, are supposed to use blue coloured cylinders for commercial purposes. But domestic cylinders are cheap as they are subsidised by the government,” he said.

“Some gas agencies are supplying domestic LPG cylinders to commercial establishments, which is a punishable offence under provisions of clause 3 to 7 of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation) of Supply and Distribution Order, 2000,” he said.

He said the IOC should take stern action against such gas agencies under the Marketing Discipline Guidelines, 2001.