AGARTALA, August 11 (TIWN): Food, Civil supplies and Consumers Affairs Minister Bhanu Lal Saha accepted the situation in the assembly session that the demand of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking gas cylinders in state is not meeting the supply from Bisalgarh gas bottling plant.

Unruly demand of the labourers to hike their wages is hampering the smooth bottling of cooking gas cylinders at Bisalgarh bottling plant for last many days.

The crisis of LPG cooking cylinder has turned from bad to worst situation, said Minister Bhanu Lal Saha.

Weekly, there should be bottling of 1 lakh cylinder in an average rate but recently bottling of only 10,000 cylinders are done.

Acute crisis of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder is still continuing in Tripura, triggering huge backlog. 

Apart from irregular bottling at the plant, the bulk is also not reaching the state.

The total number gas agencies are being increased to 46 but the main gas bottling plant in Bishalghar is unable to cope with the ongoing cylinder demands. In such situation the rampant black marketing of LPG cylinders have gripped the state alarmingly.

Common men are paying almost more than double to buy a gas cylinder. People have been left with no option but to buy the LPG cylinder from the open market by shelling out more money.

These days hundreds of people are seen standing outside the gas agencies to seek a refill and to get their cylinder. Shortage of LPG has triggered spontaneous protests in many areas across the state. 
Taking full advantage of the current situation, black-marketers are making money by selling a gas cylinder almost double its price in the market.

Weekly, there should be bottling of 1 lakh cylinder in an average rate but recently bottling of only 10,000 cylinders are done.

With irregularities in the bottling plant, the consumers of the LPG cylinders are facing the crisis. As the agencies are not provided with the cooking gas cylinder they are unable to supply it to the consumers.

Reportedly, the state requires over 1, 72,535 cylinders every month. The total number of gas agencies is being increased to 46. In such position, the two LPG bottling plants at Bishalgarh and Kalagachhia in West Tripura district are unable to cope with the rising demand for LPG cylinders. 

As a result, a huge backlog has been created all over the state. However, there is no assurance when will the crisis of LPG cylinders will come to an end.