Shortage of LPG: What is cooking?

KOCHI: There has been an alarming shortage of LPG cylinders in Kochi in the last couple of weeks with the customers being put to hardship. Most of the customers complain about the agonising wait for the cylinders that stretches for days.  According to Dhanya, a customer of Bharat Gas, the distributor had delivered the cylinder after booking 40 days in advance. “When we contacted the distributors, they said there was no need to make any phone calls as there was no stock. Those at the agency said that even the bookings of August were yet to be cleared,” she said.     Sreedevi from Kadavanthra also had a similar complaint. Sreedevi who is an Indane customer, said there was a delay of 40 days in getting a cylinder after  booking. “The only  answer that we get when calling the distributors is that it would be delivered at the earliest. In the beginning, there was only a delay of a few days but gradually the waiting period increased and now it takes about 30 to 40 days to get a cylinder, she said.Leena Omanakuttan of Elamakkara also held the same view. “When we contact the distributors about the delay, they just have excuses like faulty booking and other things,” she said. There are also complaints that the distributors are trying to get a couple of days extra to deliver the cylinder in an attempt to keep up with their share of contribution to the black market. However, various gas agencies spoke in the same tone about the delay in distributing the cylinders. Krishna Bharat Gas agency owner Narayanankutty said there was not much delay as was being made out . “There was some delay in distribution because of the Onam holidays and the strike at the bottling plant. But it was not that alarming with Bharat Gas,” he said.  Ajoy Gas Agency authorities said they were just delivering the bookings of August as there was a huge shortage.  “In place of 29 loads, only 23 have arrived this month,” Tahira who is in charge of the agency said. She attributed the delay to the holidays and also to the strike at the bottling plant. Those at the Super Gas Agency, Edapally, also had the same version. They said there was only a week's delay in delivery. Even when there’s a heavy shortage of LPG cylinders in the market, complaints abound that cylinders are being sold in the black market. The Kochi City Shadow Police has seized about 32 cylinders from various parts of the city on Wednesday and Thursday.Unscrupulous elements are using autorickshaws and cars to supply domestic gas cylinders at higher rates. The police are also probing the easy access for such persons to LPG cylinders from gas agencies. Meanwhile, six cylinders were seized from the house of Johny of Old Thevara Road while 12 cylinders each were recovered from the houses of Jose of I S Press Road  and  Joseph of Vaduthala. The latter was arrested and produced in court.