With reference to the statement on LPG made by Advocate Kezhokhoto Savi, Legal Advisor, ACAUT at the Public Rally Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation organized by ACAUT at Kohima on 31st October, 2014, whereby it was alleged that LPG refills are not made available to many customers at the authorized counters but made plenty for sale in the black market; we, the All Kohima Indane Distributors’ Association (AKIDA) would like to state and suggest as under for the interest of the public. As per our understanding, Advocate Savi perhaps referred to the Nagaland market, however, we write for and with the Kohima market in focus.
At the outset, we are all aware that LPG cylinders are not manufactured by any private party or distributors, over and above there is terrible LPG scarcity in the present situation as such, very often, the distributors of Kohima do not receive even 50% of their allotted quotas for various reasons including unauthorized heavy gate taxes. The LPG operation such as refill booking, delivery of refills, stock maintenance, movement of cylinders or issuing of new LPG connections are all being done online. Moreover, with the introduction of LPG quota of 12 Nos of subsidized cylinders per year per customer, it has become impossible to issue any refill without entering against the customer’s Blue Pass Book which is open book displayed in the Portal.
In spite of all these, if LPG refills are available in plenty at the Black Market, we believe it is the duty and responsibility of every citizen to report to the law enforcing agencies or initiate action against the illegal LPG cylinders and investigate the nature and source of supply, instead of indulging in the same crime or being mute spectators of such scene as reported. The availability as alleged by Advocate Savi may be true, but in order to find a solution, we have to join our forces and see to it that we end up this hated nuisance and inconvenience by figuring out the exact root and cause of the problem. There is every possibility that some ghost customers by use of others’ photos and credentials, violating mandatory ordinance of one LPG connection per home are creating this kind of confused market and to which we are committed to solve and cope with. Measures such as the verification processes, deactivation and reactivation of the consumer IDs have been enforced with all the possible means for the last three years till date, all to solve this situation and address the said malpractices. Severe action will be taken by law enforcing agency and the IOC against whosoever sells their subsidized cylinders for profit. Cooperation of the public in this venture is hereby earnestly solicited.
With regards to the LPG scarcity, the public is requested to register its grievances to the Supply Department, Indane Area Office, DC’s Office or KMC so as to vent out our hardships to the concerned higher authorities for favourable action.
President AKIDA, Kevingulie Solo and Secretary AKIDA Tsibu Dzüvichü
