Mangalore, Jan 29: Cooking gas is turning out to be all the precious and while apprehensions have always been there with regard to the weight of the gas while delivery, the officials say that the customers do have the right to weigh the cylinders during delivery from gas agencies.
Addressing a grievances meet organized by Gas Matthu Padithara Balakedaarara Vedike, at Town Hall, Mangalore on Monday, Bharat Petroleum Company Representative Venugopal said that there are several complaints with regard to variation in the weight of the cylinder on delivery but not many consumers know that they have the right to check the weight of the cylinders.
“In every gas supplying vehicle, there will be equipments and weight checking facilities available. Customers must ask the distribution personnel to carry out a weight check of the gas cylinders before them,” Mr. Venugopal said.
Another citizen complained that certain gas agencies are forcing people to buy stoves and other materials, threatening them of not providing with gas cylinders if they refuse to do so. Responding to the question, Mr. Venugopal said that in LPG centres, certain allied facilities and equipments are provided to people purely on an optional basis. If there is any attempt made to make people buy them forcefully, a complaint should be registered with the sales officer of the gas agency concerned, he said.
Sharanabasappa, Deputy Director, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, DK, exhorted people present in the gathering on the occasion to stop applying for ration cards merely for the sake of an identification proof. “Ration cards should be meant for receiving ration. Why don't you question the banks or anyone who demands ration card as address proof as to whether there is a directive from the government to do so?”, he said.
P B Harish Rai, President, DK District Working Journalists' Association, Mangalore, demanded officials present in the gathering to provide people with statistics of gas cylinders being sold in black by people themselves and not shy away from their responsibilities. He also asked as to whether there is a government directive which states that gas cylinders must be supplied only after 21 days or whether this rule has been framed by gas agencies themselves.
On the issue of inconveniences caused to people with respect to gas delivery from a gas agency in Ullal raised by a citizen, U T Khader, MLA, said that a single gas agency takes care of people's needs from Ullal to Mudipu and suggested the officials present at the meet to set up more agencies in the region and divide the area of supply so that there are lesser customers to deal with.
Mr. Khader also suggested that a 'Gas Adaalath' be held in every Assembly constituency once in every three months so that people's complaints are dealt with effectively.
An online memorandum was submitted to M Veerappa Moily, Union Petroleum Minister, on the occasion via e-mail by the Vedike. The memorandum included demands such as steps to subsidize 12 domestic gas cylinders a year, holding of a survey in every Taluk to set up more gas agencies for the benefit of the public, provision of filling cylinders on time for people, setting up of complaint cells in local governing bodies, compulsory handing over of 'Gas Card' and cash bill along with the date of delivery at the time of delivery of gas cylinders, continuance of two gas connections obtained legally by customers and non-cancellation of these connections, provision of fire extinguishers in gas cylinder delivery vehicles etc.
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