Action mooted against overcharging LPG dealers

Agencies using LPG to submit 17 digit number to banks before Feb 16

Overcharging by LPG distributors under the guise of transportation charges dominated the meeting on problems faced by government agencies in availing LPG cylinder refills for implementing various schemes in the district.

Senior Deputy Director for Food and Civil Supplies K Rameshwarappa, who chaired the meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, here, on Thursday, sought a comprehensive report from the officials concerned on the issue and warned of action against erring dealers.

He wondered what the plight of the common would be, if the distributors were fleecing government officials manning various agencies. “The dealers do not take responsibility and shift the blame on delivery persons for charging extra for transportation. But, we will take it up seriously and take action against the dealers,” he said.

Midday meal centres in schools, under the Aksharadasoha scheme; Anganwadis under the Women and Child Welfare department; hospitals under the Health department; and hostels under Backward Classes and Social Welfare departments have LPG connections for preparing food.

District Aksharadasoha Officer Udaykumar forwarded a complaint from the headmaster of Bhuvanahalli School, in Periyapatna taluk, which states that the delivery boy charged Rs 100 towards transportation. He said, he has received several oral complaints from midday meal centres that they have been forced to pay up to Rs 300 per refill. Most of the times, the refills are not delivered at the doorstep, if the government agency is in a remote place, he added. The officials also complained about the delay in delivery of refills and some complained about the refusal by agencies for allowing transfer to nearer agencies.

Rameshwarappa said, those facing problems should bring them to the notice of their taluk and district level officials and get them solved through the proper channel.

“Those who need new connections, transfers and enhancement in the number of cylinders should apply within one week. However, gas should be used judiciously, to check misuse. Take delivery of refills from the outlet only during emergency and insist on door delivery,” he said.

Sales Manager of BPCL Dhiraj Sahu said, all government agencies using LPG should submit their 17 digit consumer number to their respective banks for seeding to account before February 15 for availing subsidy as it will become open market from February 16.