Srinagar, Jan 27: Notwithstanding the claims of Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution that from January 26 onwards all the oil companies will supply gas cylinders of 14.2 kg in the market and do away with distribution of 5 kg cylinders, consumers are complaining that gas rationing is still on.
“Oil companies are using highway closure as a excuse to drain out money from the pockets of local consumers, now the highway is restored for vehicular movement but still these companies are forcing consumers to purchase half-filled gas cylinders and Government is watching as a mute spectator,” Ajaz Lolpuri of Ellahi Bagh Srinagar told Greater Kashmir.
A gas dealer, wishing not to be named, said that he has received directions from the oil company management that they cannot stop supplying 5 kg cylinders until January 31 as there is plenty of such stock left in the godowns and they have apprehension that once they start distributing 14 kg cylinders then no one will purchase half-filled cylinders.
He added that the consumers prefer not to buy 5 kg gas cylinder and instead are waiting for the restoration of normal supply. It seems that the 5 kg cylinders have proved blessing in disguise for the black marketers as they sell these gas cylinders to dealers who refill cooking gas as fuel in vehicles.
Pertinently, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon, had ordered that all oil companies operating in the State will start supply of 14.2 kg gas cylinders in the market from January 26. But till now no oil company in the Valley has obliged to this order.
Consumers say that 5 kg cylinders have become cause of inconvenience to them as the gas gets blocked due to lack of pressure.
Further consumers are complaining that they are made to pay all the refilling and transport charges that otherwise they have to pay on 14.2 kg cylinders.
Regional Manager of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) told Greater Kashmir that once their stock of 5 kg gas cylinders gets exhausted they will switch to the normal supply.
An official of Bharat Petroleum said they would switch over to normal supply from January 28.
Minister for CAPD said, “I have asked all the oil companies to switch over to normal supply of 14 kg gas cylinders and they have assured me that from January 28 they will distribute it to the consumers.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST