Bhubaneswar, June 25: For cooking gas consumers of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, it’s double whammy.

While the rise in gas prices, up by Rs 50, is set to burn a hole in their pockets, the state government has gone back on its own promise of ensuring timely supply leaving lakhs of consumers high and dry.

On May 4, the then food supplies and consumer welfare minister, Sharada Prasad Nayak (now holding the urban development portfolio), had directed all gas agencies to ensure that consumers got gas cylinders within 48 hours of booking and new gas connections within seven days of application.

But consumers still have to wait for at least 15 days for a refill while getting a new connection has become an uphill task. Bhubaneswar has around 2.25 lakh gas connections while Cuttack has another 2.02 lakh.

“You have to wait for 15 days to book a cylinder and then wait for another 15 days for delivery. This effectively means one month for a new cylinder to land at your doorstep,” said Pravas Chandra Mohanty, a resident of VSS Nagar. He said one has to make several phone calls to make a single booking.

Nayak said his directives were meant for the benefit of the consumers.

“The black-marketing of gas cylinders at different levels threatens to stifle the rights of customers who are entitled to timely delivery. We had started a drive to identify fake cards. The new minister (Niranjan Pujari) is also likely to launch a drive in this regard.”

However, Pujari said he was not aware of the situation.

“I am entirely new to the ministry. I will find out about the problem and try to ensure that people get cylinders on time,” he said.

When Nayak was handling the portfolio, he had also asked the oil companies to provide new LPG connections to people within a week. Even that has proved to be an empty promise.

“It has been a month since I applied for a new gas connection but I am yet to receive a confirmation,” said Sunil Soren, a local resident.

“Sometimes, the distributors refuse to give new connections saying that bookings are closed as their quota is full,” said Sandeep Kumar Panda, another local resident.

He also complained about the toll free number 1800-3456724 of the state government, saying it was impossible to get through.

Department’s secretary, Madhu Sudan Padhi said he, too, was new to the department. With both the minister and the secretary claiming ignorance about the situation, the consumers continue to suffer.

Consumers allege that gas agencies were trying to make money by joining hands with blackmarketeers.

“A cylinder sells for Rs 700 to Rs 800 in the black market, so they find this more profitable,” said Bibhu Prasad Behura, a consumer.

However, Indian Oil state coordinator P.K. Das sought to defend the companies.

“We respond to the people’s demand within two to three days. They are also being given the new gas connections timely,” he claimed.