LPG problem ? Approach Food and Civil Supplies Dept immediately, says officer

LPG problem ? Approach Food and Civil Supplies Dept immediately, says officer

Mangalore Today News Network

 Mangalore, Jan 29, 2013  : Sharanabasappa, Deputy Director of District Food and Civil Supplies  Department has  assured LPG consumers of speedy redressal of their grievances if they directly approach the Department rather than lodging a complaint with the Consumer Forum and waiting for as long as 90 days.

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He was  speaking at a public contact meeting  of LPG consumers and ration card holders organised by the Praja Vikasa Trust and the Gas and Ration Card Users Forum held at Town hall on January 28, Monday.

To a query from a customer if purchase of  gas stoves was also compulsory while availing new connections as  asked by a few gas agencies, the officer said there was no such rule and added in case there is pressure to purchase even gas stoves by any agency, then consumers can approach the Department or the Consumer Court. He also stressed the need for awareness in this regard.

A consumer Vishalakshi V Nayak pointed out that sometimes there was a difference in the weight of LPG cylinders and complained that the gas agencies were not adhering the SC ruling. Replying to this query, the Deputy Director said  every LPG cylinder distribution vehicle will have a weighing machine inside and it is the duty of the distributors to weigh the cylinder before the consumer before supplying the same.

The consumers should demand that the cylinder be weighed and  added the domestic LPG cylinders weighing 30-31 kgs will have LPG weighing 14.2 kg.

To another question Venugopal Shetty of Bharath Petroleum said  the LPG cylinders should reach the consumers within five to six days of booking. Consumers can wait upto a week and then lodge a complaint, he added.

When a consumer wanted to know as to who should be contacted in the event of gas leakage, the officer said the emergency number provided in the LPG cylinder receipts could be called.  He also said that a delivery charge of Rs 1.60 is levied per cylinder and added consumers need not pay anything more than the bill amount.
Several queries regarding inclusion or deletion of names from ration cards, were also answered by Sharanabasappa, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Dharmendra K, President of the Forum, presided over the function. PB Harish Rai, President of DK District Working Journalists’” Union, Shashiraj Rao Kavoor, advocate , Mohammad Siddique Jakribettu, General Secretary, Rekha Baliga, member and others were present.

A 14 point memorandum  enlisting the demands of the Forum was emailed to the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas  M Veerappa Moily. Some of the demands include steps to provide 12 subsidized LPG cylinders a year,  to open additional gas distribution agencies, to mention the date of supply  in the cash bill and to convene public contact meets at taluk level once in three months.