AGARTALA, Dec 16 (TIWN): Booking of LPG cooking gas cylinders for home delivery has lead to massive problem for the people of Tripura.

LPG cooking gas crisis has worsened across the state, forcing the domestic users to raise voice against the owners of the most of the gas agency of the state.

Consumers in Agartala are severely hit by the repeated shortage of Liquid Petroleum gas (LPG) cooking gas cylinders over past many days.  As a result, black marketing is on the rise, with consumers bound to buy cylinders at prices ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 a piece.

However, the consumers alleged that to collect extra income from the consumers the agency owners are playing a mind game and are not providing the deserving gas cylinders to the consumers are forcing them to buy with higher rates.

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.

Although Indian Oil Corporation limited has taken the initiative of launching the system of Online booking of refilling the LPG cylinders in the state but it is seen that even after booking the consumers don’t get the cylinders as the agency claims that there are no bulk.  

This system was supposed to put an end to customer allegation but it is seen that the home delivery of gas continues in terms of Rs 1000-1200 through black-marketing.

The crisis of LPG cooking cylinder has turned from bad to worst situation. Acute crisis of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder is still continuing in Tripura, triggering huge backlog.

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.

Allegedly, scarcity of LPG cylinders continues to haunt consumers, particularly in central locations of the city, and there is no confirmed time when the problem of acute scarcity of LPG cooking gas cylinder will come to an end.  Taking full advantage of the current situation, black-marketers are making money by selling a gas cylinder almost double its price in the market.

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.

Women in kitchens, particularly those who use LPG cylinders, are going through a nerve-wracking time over the last three months. All this while, the LPG delivery time has shot up from five days to almost four weeks and this has led to many kitchens running out of gas and scouring for alternatives.

However, there is no assurance when will the hue and cry of the common man for LPG cooking gas cylinder will come to an end.