The Hindu : Front Page : LPG dealers not to insist on 21-day gap for refill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 10, 2005

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LPG dealers not to insist on 21-day gap for refill

Special Correspondent

Production of ration card can be demanded as and when necessary after March-end

HYDERABAD: The 21-day gap to be maintained for seeking a second LPG cylinder after taking the first will not be insisted by dealers in the State. Gas companies gave this assurance following a representation made by the Government to the Petroleum Ministry.

Civil Supplies Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy clarified on Wednesday that presentation of ration cards would, however, be insisted by the dealers "as and when necessary" when consumers booked a cylinder. But, this would be implemented only after distribution of ration cards by March-end.

He admitted that LPG availability was "tight", but said supply normalcy was restored in case of 542 of the 735 dealers. Normalcy implied supplying the refill within three to four days of booking. The waiting period in case of one dealer, however, was 23 days. Earlier, he reviewed the departmental issues with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Diversion of gas

On "diversion" of LPG to hotels, one factor which was offsetting the Government efforts was the existence of "domestic" benami gas connections. He attributed the prolonged waiting for refills to shortage in "bulk gas supply" by oil companies by 5,000 tonnes a month.

Mr. Reddy announced that distribution of ration-cards in other urban areas would be launched on November 15 and completed by mid-December. A meeting would be held here on November 15 with Joint Collectors, Municipal Commissioners and department officials. An in-principle decision was taken to commence distribution in a municipality only after the dates were suggested by the civic body. Rural mandals in a municipality would be covered first. The distribution would commence in the rural areas on January 1.

He said rice and other items would be released next month against the new ration cards where the distribution was completed.

The Minister asserted that onion shortage had come down following mobilisation of 12,000 tonnes from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kurnool markets at a cost of Rs 5.5 crores. Onion was now being sold at Rs. 7 a kg at rythu bazars and some fair price shops. The Chief Minister wanted supply of seeds at subsidised rate to farmers for growing onions over a larger area.

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