Port Blair, Feb 27: That frequent complaints are received by the Department of CS and CA and often the news items appear in various local dailies regarding irregular supply of LPG cylinders in South Andaman and N&M Andaman Districts leading to hardship to the consumers and alleging that these shortcomings are due to the inefficiency of this Department.
The Department of CS and CA today clarified that such statements are due to wrong perceptions amongst the local media and the LPG consumers that this Department is directly involved in distribution of LPG cylinders whereas, it is the responsibility of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. to ensure adequate availability and its timely distribution through their authorized LPG distributors.
“This Department is only the monitoring agency on behalf of the Administration for market intervention in case of scarcity to make its availability at the time of crisis to safeguard the interest of the consumers. Time and again this Department issue directions to IOCL and its authorized LPG distributors to streamline the distribution of LPG but since only three agencies are appointed as LPG distributors the desired results are not achieved. Taking into accounts of the above scenario, this Administration requested the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India for appointing new LPG distributors in all Islands of this UT. The Ministry was pleased to approve the proposal for appointment of regular LPG distributors at Mayabunder, Rangat, Kadamtala, Bambooflat, Bathu Basti & Prothrapur which is potentially viable from business point of view,” a release from the department said here today.
The release added that on implementation of “Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV)” scheme by the Govt. of India to ensure more penetration of LPG at remote areas, this Administration proposed appointing independent LPG distributors viz CCS Ltd. for Little Andaman & Campbell Bay, EHL at Car Nicobar and Tribal Development Cooperative Society (TDCS) for Nancowary group of Islands which was accepted by the Govt. of India.
“New LPG distributorship at Rangat, Bathubasti, Prothrapur, Car Nicobar and Nancowary group of Islands are expected to start functioning soon whereas, no agency was found qualified for other notified areas. Re-advertisement shall be published by IOCL inviting fresh application for the left out areas will be done at the earliest. Once new LPG distributors are appointed, irregular distribution of LPG cylinders will be addressed permanently,” the release added.