GUWAHATI, April 10 - Shortage of LPG cylinders has been reported from many parts of the city, with agencies blaming it on problems in transportation of the commodity from the bottling plants.
Many gas agencies have also stopped online booking of LPG refill cylinders due to shortage in supply.
Pritom Saikia, a resident of Hengrabari area said, �I had booked online for an LPG gas cylinder refill well ahead of the lockdown, but before I got my refill, my gas agency stopped home delivery. Consequently my earlier booking got cancelled. Since my agency has put a hold on online booking also, I had to go there in person today to book my cylinder. They however could not provide me any tentative date on which I would get a refill since there is a shortage of LPG cylinders; only people who booked before April 1 would get cylinders for the next ten days.�
A distributor said that there is a shortage of manpower at the two bottling plants of IOC. �There is a disruption in the supply chain due to shortage of manpower at the bottling plants. Even today most of the vehicles did not run due to the odd-even rule imposed on plying of vehicles,� the distributor said.
Sources in the administration also said that a smaller number of vehicles were carrying LPG from the plants to the distributors.
On the other hand, the backlog of orders is mounting daily, another distributor said.
However, general secretary of the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union Ramen Das claimed there is no shortage in supply and manpower at the North Guwahati and Solapara bottling plants of IOC.
�The supply chain was disrupted in the beginning of the lockdown due to shortage of vehicles and manpower. But it was resolved and the supply chain was maintained smoothly,� Das claimed.
�Some unscrupulous suppliers and agencies have caused a disruption in the supply for their own benefit. The government should take immediate stock of the situation and punish all those responsible for the disruption,� he added.
Meanwhile, one Biman Hazarika of Beltola said, �Due to uncertainty in supply of LPG refills, I have turned to microwave ovens, a move that can however send my electricity bills spiralling. But people who do not have options other than cooking gas, will suffer a lot.�
