Consumers now entitled to 5 LPG subsidized cylinders till March

GANGTOK, 22 Jan: State Trading Corporation of Sikkim [STCS] has officially notified the increase in the quota of subsidized LPG cylinders from the existing 6 to 9 cylinders per year as effective from 01 April 2013. A press release issued by the Managing Director STCS informs that for the current financial year, the remaining number of cylinder entitlement for each connection under subsidized category (September 13 2012 to March 31 2013) now stands at 5 against the three earlier.
It is further informed here that currently the service of refilling is being continued on production of the acknowledgement receipt of DGCC book issued by this office. However, the practice shall no longer be continued without the production of mandatory Blue Book confirming KYC registration as per M/s. IOCL guideline.
STCS has requested its consumers to register KYCs immediately in order to get new updated Blue Books and continued service. Those who have already submitted KYC registration forms may immediately contact STCS office at Deorali & Baiguney, as the case may be, for collection of new updated Blue-Books.
Consumers who desire to transfer their connections with their convenient Distributors may also contact the STCS office. However, transfer is not mandatory while Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India has announced its portability within the ambit of the same Oil Manufacturing Companies.
Further, the release mentions that STCS has received a number of KYC forms seeking transfer of connections from the existing names to others which is proving to be difficult in the absence of appropriate documents authenticating proof of identifications. Hence, such consumers are requested to contact STCS offices at Gangtok or Baiguney with sufficient documents that authenticate their proof of identification to enable earlier registration of such cases.
Transfer of connections issued under Janta Mela and other Government welfare schemes are not transferable unless approved by the Government, the release adds.
Those consumers with multiple connections are requested to kindly surrender the same before actions are initiated by the authorities to block such connections. It is once again informed here that as per the new regulations, only one connection with DBC per household is permissible.
This is being informed for all the future exercise that cylinders are sufficiently available but only against prior booking unlike free availability in the past though the practice might be a teething problem initially, the release further states.

KYC registration will continue even after 31 Dec, STCS clarifies

GANGTOK, 30 Dec: State Trading Corporation of Sikkim [STCS] has been working on a war-footing to complete the registration process of Know Your Customer [KYC] of its customers. STCS plans to complete the KYC registration process by the end of January next year.
The STCS had 1.20 lakh households registered with it in 2008 but after appointment of 5 private distributors by the IOC and after area demarcation, the STCS presently has 80,000 households sourcing their LPG supplies from it.
Addressing a press conference today, the STCS Managing Director, Sonam Gyamtso Pulger mentioned that STCS being the pioneer distributor of LPG in the state, it has been doing its best for the convenience of its consumers. He informed that STCS has 80% of the customers registered with it.
The Managing Director informed that KYC was a continuing process and further appealed to its consumers not to panic regarding the deadline. He clarified that the KYC registration will continue even after 31 December, however, those who do not register till 31 December will be able to get their subsidized LPG cylinders only after March next year.
The KYC process had started on 19 October. He informed that the KYC process is going on nation-wide so the network is jammed most of the time due to which the verification process of a single applicant is taking a lot of time. STCS plans to start the new connection process from February next year after completing the KYC process of the existing consumers.  
On the cap on subsidized LPG cylinders by the central government, Mr Pulger said that the concerned Ministry had decided on the quota of 6 cylinders per household and the state had no say as such on it. He further added that all distributors were also directed by the IOC to maintain the history of their consumers for the same.
“On the quota of 6 subsidized cylinders per household, the Chief Minister has already taken this matter to the Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas to increase the number of subsidized cylinders in view of the hilly terrain and geographical condition of the state,” he said.

STCS to establish LPG distribution centre in Dzongu

MANGAN, 06 Dec: There is some good news for the people of Dzongu as it is all set to get an LPG distribution centre soon. Although there are no distribution centres in the entire North district, truck loads of LPG refills were reaching places like Mangan. Consumers in Dzongu however were getting their LPG refills all the way from Gangtok given the unsure timing and date of delivery in Mangan.
During an awareness function held in Upper Dzongu yesterday, General Manager STCS, Menla Ethenpa informed that a new distribution centre will be established in Dzongu for the people of Dzongu constituency.
Mr Ethenpa interacted with the panchayats of Dzongu during the awareness session held for the people of Dzongu regarding the new system of KYC form. The STCS GM further informed that, it is mandatory to fill up the KYC form and also informed the people about the required documents to be furnished while filling up the KYC form.
The GM further added that the people of Dzongu and other parts of North Sikkim including Lachen and Lachung need not go to Gangtok to fill the KYC form as the STCS will make arrangements for the same at the Mangan community hall. The date on which this is to take place will be informed later, he added.
As requested by the Zilla Adhyaksha and public, the GM has decided to open an LPG distribution centre at Sangkalang in Upper Dzongu. This distribution centre, when set up, will cater to around 1000 consumers of Dzongu.
The awareness programme was also attended by Minister for Power cum area MLA, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha along with Zilla Adhakshya North, Anguli Lepcha, SCTS Manager, Mansing Tamang and other panchayat members.
The Zilla Adhyaksha North stated that the people of Dzongu are facing problems due to this new KYC system and further added that the people have to shell out an extra amount to get the LPG cylinders from Gangtok. She also requested the STCS for a one time distribution of LPG refills for the people of Dzongu before the Lossoong Festival which is the main festival of the people of Dzongu.
The Power Minister appealed to all the panchayats to be aware of this KYC system and explain it to the people of their respective wards and GPUs.  He further urged all the people of Dzongu to fill up this KYC form as soon as possible.
The Minister also inspected the under construction REDRH houses at Chandey for the displaced families of Bey Village who were shifted to this area after the earthquake last year washed out their village.  The Minister directed the concerned contractors and masons to deliver quality work.

STCS to launch renewal process of LPG consumer documents in West Sikkim

“NO CRISIS BUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION”
GANGTOK, 24 May: The State Trading Corporation of Sikkim [STCS] is all geared up to improve and organise the distribution of LPG cylinders for the West District inclusive of Jorethang area within the second week of June. It is informed that there are about a total of 23,000 beneficiaries or customers of STCS in the West District including Jorethang but lack of proper documentation or illegal consumption has given rise to a crisis in the supply of LPG cylinders.
Speaking to NOW! today, Managing Director [MD] STCS, Gyamtso Pulger stated that unauthorized consumption, improper documentation of  existing consumers had resulted in the present crisis in West Sikkim. The STCS inclusive of the local administrators carried out a survey and according to the survey it was found that consumers lacked proper documents.
The survey carried out also highlighted the problem of incomplete documents following which STCS is all set to start the renewal process of documents to know the number of actual consumers and the supply required.
Mr Pulger mentioned that as per the policy framed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited [IOCL] no consumer is entitled to a LPG refill in the absence of proper documents and blue book. He went on to say that no black marketing as such were traced in the West District and appealed to all consumers to cooperate with STCS in carrying out the exercise being planned to organise and improve the supply of LPG cylinders.
Mr Pulger iterated that consumers who have lost their blue book or subscription receipt issued earlier with the connection need to file an FIR at the nearest police station and fill up a form available with the distributor for availing fresh, proper and up-to-date documents to continue receiving unhindered supply of LPG refilled cylinders.
On the current status of refilled LPG cylinder supply to the West District, Mr Pulger informed that, two trucks loaded with a total of 524 refilled cylinders from IOC plant is being unloaded at Jorethang godown on a daily basis and there exists no crisis like situation at all. However, he added that the supply of cylinders also depends on the availability of refilled cylinders in the bottling plant.
Adding more, he explained that the demand for new LPG connection in the West District and Jorethang persists but the issuance of the same totally rests with the IOC. So until and unless the new connections are issued by the IOC, distributors operating across the state cannot supply the same.

STCS officials inspect damage to head office, resolve to assist relief measures across Sikkim

GANGTOK, 21 Sept: STCS building located at Deorali has developed a series of severe cracks and taken other damages. Consequently, a team of officials of the Corporation led by their Chairperson MLA Chandra Maya Subba, inspected the office building on 19 September to assess the damage and the threat posed to both the officials working there as well as to its property, informs a press release.

BB Lopchan replaces Nima Theengh as STCS advisor

GANGTOK, 26 June: Nima Theengh, Advisor, State Trading Corporation of Sikkim has been relieved of his post and BB Lopchan appointed as the new Advisor, STCS vide a notification issued by the State Government on 23 June.
“The reason why the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] Government has taken this decision maybe in a positive manner and I look at it in a very simple and plain way as this is a daily routine work for me,” said Nima Theengh, while speaking to the media persons yesterday.
“Nobody’s post is permanent and so it is of no use to start thinking negatively on the whole issue,” he stated and added that maybe the party had a better post and added responsibility for him in the near future.
“I have been an Advisor for the last 2 years, one month and three days and think that other party workers should also be given a chance, and therefore I take this decision in a very positive frame of mind,” he added.

IOC racks up storage capacity to 21,000 cylinders

MONSOON VAGARIES SHOULD NOT TROUBLE KITCHENS THIS SEASON
GANGTOK, 16 June: This monsoon, LPG consumers in the State can expect some relief as the LPG refilling plant at Majitar, Rangpo is now equipped with a capacity to store 21,000 cylinders at a time instead of the earlier 7,000.
Speaking to NOW!, STCS Managing Director, S. Gyamptso Pulger, said, “Now the refilling plant has increased its storing  capacity and is also arranging for buffer stocks. There should not be scarcity during monsoon.”
At present, according to Mr. Pulger, the supply is running normal as the refilling plant has almost cleared its backlog carried over from February to April.