Srinagar Nov 1:  With the start of preparations for Eid, the Srinagar city is reeling under the shortage of cooking gas cylinders.
 The residents from many areas in Srinagar complained severe shortage of cylinders as also poor distribution mechanism.
 “The gas dealers receive the supply everyday but they create artificial shortage ahead of Eid in the market by indulging in hoarding,” many customers said.
 They alleged that the gas dealers instead of selling LPG cylinders to common people prefer to sell them to black marketers.
 “I was told that the gas is available early in the morning in Dalgate, but when I went to the dealer there he told me all the cylinders have been sold out,”  Javaid Ahmad, a resident of Rainawari said.
 He said it has been more than a month now since the mobile delivery van had last time come to their locality. Many people go early in the morning and wait in long queues to buy the gas but return empty-handed.
 “Many gas dealers use cylinders for the refilling purpose of vehicles, which gives them more revenue as compared to selling cylinders to common people,” said Ghulam Nabi of Nowpora.
 An angry consumer who was waiting for his turn at Karan Nagar here said:  “Government is giving subsidy on gas cylinder for domestic purpose. But there are people using it as fuel for vehicles, which is an abuse and needs to be checked by the authorities.”  
 Gas dealer Nazir Ahmad  of Karan Nagar said: “We are receiving adequate  gas cylinders but the demand is very high at the time of Eid.”
Officials speak
 Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution  AW Tak  said there was  no shortage of Gas cylinders in District Srinagar. 
 “Our department has divided Srinagar city in four zones.  I have personally entrusted 41 employees of my department with the task to check different markets of the city,” he said.
 He added people should contact their respective police  stations in case any dealer is overcharging or creating shortage.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST