Consumers pour out their grievances at meet

Several complaints were received at the grievance meet of the LPG consumers and ration card holders organised by the Gas and Ration Card Consumers Forum, which is a part of Praja Vikasa Seva Trust, at Town Hall in Mangalore on Monday.

A few consumers complained of delay in supply of LPG cylinders. Many participants complained against distribution agencies for not receiving the calls of consumers.

A consumer said that the agency do not provide bills for purchasing the LPG cylinder while another consumer complained about the fraud committed by agencies in terms of weighing the cylinder. Two hours of time dedicated for hearing the grievances of the consumers too fell short as the list of complaints only increased with the passing time.

The general public unanimously said the shortage of distribution agencies of belonging to HP, Indane and Bharat gas as the reason for the existing problem.

Responding to the grievances, Bharat Petroleum representative Venugopal said that all the LPG supplying companies will increase their distribution agencies in the near future. New agencies will be opened at Bajpe, Mangaladevi, Mani, Bantwal, Kotekar, Kinnigoli, Surathkal, Punjalakatte and other places.

MLA U T Khader who was present the public meet, expressed the need to organise taluk-level adalats related to the distribution of LPG cylinders once in every three months.

Food and Civil Supplies Department Deputy Director Sharanabasappa said “squads led by the Gram Panachayat and Taluk Panchayat presidents have been formed in every gram panchayat and taluk level.

Misappropriations could be brought to the notice of the Department through these squads and the Department is ready to take strict action against the defaulters,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, he announced that the bio-metric weighing machine will be introduced in the district to facilitate the easy distribution of food grains at the ration shops.

The computerised system will not give scope for any misappropriation. All the family members  should be present while adding names to a ration card, he said.