Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji: Panic booking led to a temporary shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in some parts of the state, an official from the civil supplies and consumer affairs department said, adding that demand had increased up to five times the normal level.
The official said there was no actual shortage of cylinders, adding, “The panic booking has reduced to about three times the normal demand and is gradually declining further to around two times or even 1.5 times,” the official said.
Several complaints regarding non-availability of domestic cylinders were received earlier.
“The few pending backlog cases are being handled by taluka authorities.
Oil companies have studied past consumption data and are supplying cylinders accordingly. Cylinders are also being received directly from the source to maintain steady supply, the official said.
The official said that earlier, oil companies had released more cylinders due to panic booking, which caused some imbalance in supply, but the situation was now under control. The supply is being managed through 55 agencies.
In some cases where cylinders have not yet been delivered, the matter is being addressed by taluka-level officers, while the authorities are acting on complaints received. Regarding commercial cylinders, the official said that only about 50 to 60 per cent had been released so far, but supply would be ensured to all commercial users. Commercial establishments have been asked to register details such as average consumption, usage, and type of activity to help agencies monitor demand.
In the Cacora case where residents of 20 Point Programme colony at Vhodlemol protested against the inordinate delay in supply of LPG cylinders, the official said the taluka officer had been contacted and the issue will be addressed. The official said there had been slight disruption in some areas and, as an immediate measure, agencies were coordinating with nearby agencies to maintain supply.
Over month-long LPG delay triggers protest in Cacora colony
Curchorem: Residents of the 20 Point Programme colony at Vhodlemol, Cacora, in the Curchorem municipal area took to the streets with empty cooking gas cylinders on Wednesday morning, protesting against the inordinate delay in supply by the East Quepem Consumers Cooperative Society, which is the gas agency.
Sources said that for over a month, the vehicle supplying cylinders, which used to visit every Tuesday, has not visited the area.
There are more than 100 houses in the locality, including 73 constructed under the 20 Point Programme.
“One month and four days have passed since the cylinder supply vehicle last visited the area. Residents are facing hardships as they have no alternative arrangements,” said resident Raju Morajkar.
He said that when they contacted the society office at Curchorem market, they were told that the vehicle would arrive, but despite assurances, both regular and additional cylinders have run empty.
“Attempts to contact chairman Agnelo Fernandes did not receive any response,” he said, and questioned why cylinders are available in Sanguem and Quepem but scarce in Curchorem.
A housewife Neeta Naik said that women are facing stress due to the shortage of cooking gas. “School-going children are facing difficulties with breakfast and lunch,” she said.
Another resident, Sidharth Naik, requested the government to inquire into the functioning of the society. He questioned why only the East Quepem Society is facing such issues when other gas agencies have supply.
When contacted, Fernandes was not reachable for comments.
