Agartala, Nov 1 (TIWN): Acute Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder crisis continuing in Tripura triggering huge backlog for last one month. The total number gas agencies are being increased to 46 while the main gas bottling plant in Bishalghar is unable to cope with the ongoing cylinder demands. Such at situation, the rampant black marketing of LPG cylinders have gripped the state alarmingly.

According to the sources of Food and Civil Supplies Department, the acute LPG crisis in the state is likely to be controlled by the end of November. But very poor chances are there to cope up with the rising LPG demands without creating a high-powerful gas bottling plant in the state, said the source.

The two LPG bottling plants at Bishalghar and Kalagachhia in West Tripura district are unable to cope with the rising demand for LPG cylinders. As a result, a backlog has been created all over the state. The state needed over 1, 72,535 cylinders every month.  The administration is maintaining silence to recover gas cylinders hoarded by black marketers.

The state is required an average of LPG cylinders over 25 vehicles per day. To overcome the cylinder crisis, Bishalghar gas filling plant bottling more than 20 vehicles cylinders per day while the maximum gas bottling power in Bishalghar plant is 20 vehicles per day. Following the less production in comparing to the demands of LPG cylinders in the state, the valid consumers are unable get a cylinder in a month.

A section of consumers have alleged that the state government and concerned department is not taking any initiative to control the situation. The huge number of black marketing of LPG cylinder is one of the prime reasons for acute cooking gas shortage in the state, they said.

According to a highly placed source in Food and Civil Supplies Department, the necessary repairing work for Bishalghar gas bottling plant will be started by November without hampering gas bottling.