Bandipora, Dec 27: A large number of consumers in this north Kashmir district today complained shortage of cooking gas due to its “black marketing” and “misuse.”
 Alleging mismanagement on the part of the gas agencies operating in the district, the customers accused them of creating shortage of the commodity for domestic consumers.
 “While a domestic consumer are made to wait for 10 to 20 days to get an LPG cylinder, hotels owners and commercial establishments are being given five to six cylinders actually meant for domestic use,” locals told Greater Kashmir.
 “The gas agencies operating in the district are selling cylinders meant for domestic use to commercial establishment by charging more money from them,” alleged Mushatq Ahmed, a consumer of Indiane Gas Agency.
 "Black marketing and misuse of LPG are increasing day by day in the area," seconded Nazir Ahmed, a consumer of HP Company.
 "Employees of gas agencies are giving dozens of gas cylinders to the hotels and commercial establishments by charging Rs 200 more from them," sources told Greater Kashmir.
 When contacted Assistant Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Bandipora Ghulam Muhammad said: “We are framing a strategy to take action against the people involved.”
 He added for this purpose “I have informed the tehsildar concerned and municipality for future course of action.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST