SUALKUCHI, April 25 � Shortage of LPG cylinders has become a regular feature during every festival season throughout the year and the consumers of Sualkuchi area under Sualkuchi Budram Gas Service are experiencing scarcity of refilled LPG cylinders even after 40 days from the data of booking during the since of festivity.
This time, on the eve of the Rongali Bihu, scarcity of refilled LPG cylinders caused much distress to the customers. Normal distribution of LPG cylinders has been disrupted since March and the people have been deprived of getting the refilled cylinders as per norms determined by the authority concerned. So, the harassed customers have to wait 35 to 40 days for getting the refilled cylinders from the data of receiving the last refilled cylinders.
The situation turned worse when the consumers having no way out used firewood or persons by purchasing them at exorbitant rates. Some people of joint families who have more than two connections sold their excess refill cylinders at Rs 500 to Rs 600 in the market, people alleged. Discrimination in distribution and black marketing of refilled cylinders were also alleged by some consumers.
Shortage in supply of refilled cylinders has adversely hit the distribution system, agency sources say. It was reported that the agency received 9,684 refilled cylinders against the requirement of 12,184. So there was a backlog of 2,500 refilled cylinders. Again in April, the agency got 6,048 refilled cylinders and the backlog increased to 7,319. The sources said that employees� strike and Bihu holiday badly affected the supply of cylinders. The total number of consumers of the agency is 16,810 and the agency needs 40 truck loads of refilled cylinders per month to service the people smoothly.
