The central government plans to allow consumers to switch cooking gas agencies like cellphone users change their service provider, and make sure that households are not refused cylinders on procedural grounds, as it seeks to address a barrage of consumer complaints on the politically sensitive issue.
State run oil companies & the petroleum ministry are discussing the new proposal after a public outcry against alleged malpractices & instances of dealers refusing to deliver cylinders even at market rates, government & industry officials said.
Politicos, including members of the Congress party, have raised concerns that consumer anger on the issue can have serious implications in crucial elections. The issue has been simmering since September, 2012 when the central government capped the supply of subsidised LPG to 6 per household per year to stop large scale diversion of cheap domestic fuel for commercial use & to cut subsidies.
But in the 2 months since the decision,customers have complained that their kitchens became dysfunctional as dealers refused to supply even non-subsidised cylinders. Consumers were asked to submit know-your-customer (KYC) documents, or / proof of identity & residence, by November 15, 2012 to be eligible for subsidised LPG. This has magnified fears of harassment and malpractices by gas agencies but the oil ministry has intervened to help consumers and give them the option to dump their gas dealer & buy cooking fuel from another agency. With this objective, marketing firms have already introduced ratings of distributors and over a lakh consumers have rated their dealers. This feature will provide wider choice to consumers & force distributors to provide better service, a senior oil ministry official said.
Currently,consumers are usually tied to one particular dealer unless they change residences.Inter-company transfers of gas connections are nearly impossible. The oil ministry also wants to make sure that supply of non-subsidised cooking gas should not be stopped.
Src: ET
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