The Hindu : Front Page : Cooking gas supply in city under strain

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Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
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Cooking gas supply in city under strain

N. Ravi Kumar

Pongal holidays a reason
Distributors getting less loads

CHENNAI: Supplies of the 14.2-kg domestic cooking gas refills by market leader Indian Oil Corporation have come under strain in the city, at a time of the year when the consumer demand peaks on account of seasonal factors.

According to sources, it takes up anywhere between five to ten days for distributors to supply refills even after the mandatory three-week gap between two refill supplies. The backlog is attributed to a reduction in loads being made available to distributors. In some cases, where the distributors used to draw two loads a day, each comprising 306 cylinders, the supply has dwindled to one a day and two on alternate days.

A senior official in the LPG division of Indian Oil Corporation said the main reason for the situation was the series of holidays for Pongal when the plant was closed and many of those in the distribution chain – from truckers to delivery boys – took a long break. Besides, road widening work near the Ennore bottling plant has resulted in traffic congestion.

While the official said that backlog would be cleared in a week, distributors apprehend that it would turn worse as panic bookings are heavy.

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