DC takes stock of LPG supply situation

IOC SETS UP NEW UNIT WITH 23,000 CYLINDER CAPACITY; HOTELIERS DIRECTED TO STOP PUTTING DOMESTIC CYLINDERS TO COMMERCIAL USE
SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 05 May: District Collector [East], D. Anandan has issued strict directions to the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of LPG cylinders to consumers in the district. This, in response to complaints reaching his office that refills for domestic LPG cylinders were getting hard to come by. Officials at the District Administrative Centre [East] add that this action was also suo moto in light of the long queues of LPG expectant across town.
This, Mr. Anandan, told an emergency meeting conveyed by him at the District Control Room, MG Marg, on 03 May with representatives of the LPG distributors, including STCS, officials of the IOC and Food and Civil Supplies Department and members of the Sikkim Hotels and Restaurants Association.
The meeting was convened to ascertain the reasons behind the shortage of LPG refills in the recent weeks and came to the conclusion that this was a ‘temporary shortage’ caused because of the three-day continuous shut down of the LPG plant at Rangpo because of the West Bengal elections and observation of fire safety week by the IOC.

Addressing the meeting, the DC urged the IOC officials to maintain buffer stocks for uninterrupted supply even if supplies to the plant are hit by disruptions.
In this, the IOC officials assured that a new unit, with capacity to stock 23,000 cylinders, will be made operational immediately.
The DC, pointing out hoteliers and restaurant owners, who are blamed for causing shortages by using domestic cylinders in their establishments, urged SHRA to convince its members to use only commercial cylinders.
Warning them of strict action as per the norms, the DC announced that raids will be conducted to ensure that only commercial cylinders are used in the commercial establishments.
For this, the DC sought the complete supports and cooperation of officials of Food and Civil Supplies Department.
In the meantime, the DC has appealed to the consumers not to panic as the supply will normalise within few days, informs Sub-Divisional Magistrate [Gangtok], AB Karki, who had also addressed the meeting.