LPG disconnection fear grips consumers, thousands flock to the DC office

People were seen flocking to the Food and Civil Supplies department at the D.C. Office in large number from morning and most of the anxious visitors had brought documents relating to their connection, ration card, electricity bill along with them.

Separate counters have been set up at the D.C. office premises to deal with the influx of people seeking to know the fate of their LPG connection and to restore the same in the event of them being disconnected.

Despite additional computer units and 'may I help you' counters being arranged, a large number of people were found crowded around the work tables.

“On Monday alone, more than 600 people have given their RR numbers. In the last three four days more than 2,000 consumers have given their RR numbers. Those who have submitted their electricity bills need not panic about their connection being disconnected. But those who have not submitted the bill will have their connections snapped,” said Chinnappa Gowda, the deputy commissioner.

He also made it clear that the consumers need not visit the DC office personally. They can obtain the status of their LPG connection through their mobile phones. The method is simple. Type in KLVS and click space bar, type in the gas agency's landline code, then landline number and send the SMS to 924335523. The consumer will get the details, he added.

He also agreed that the people who did not know how to operate computers would inevitably throng the DC office and promised to provide all the help for the anxious customers by increasing the number of staff and other facilities.

He also said the department has taken notice of the complaint about the non-cooperation of certain gas agencies in the verification exercise and urged the gas agencies to provide the required information to the consumers at their respective premises.

Speaking about the difficulty being faced by the consumers, Prabhakar Sharma, additional DC, said that the LPG connection of a number of personnel at the DC office has also been suspended.

“We are carrying out the operation to comply with the government order. There is no other means than this to put an end to the problem of illegal connections,” he said.

Sharanabasappa, the Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies department, appealed to people not to panic as there was 15 day time to rectify the problem. “There will be no disconnection immediately. But, I cannot say if the deadline would be extended beyond 15 days. It is up to the government to decide on this,” he added.

There are 3,24,903 LPG connections in the district. Among which 2,03,225 consumers have submitted the required documents. The remaining 1,21,678 connections could be suspended after verification.