Tension Erupts at Aska Gas Agency Over LPG Cylinder Shortage
In Aska, Ganjam district, tension flared outside a cooking gas agency on Monday as residents formed long queues with empty LPG cylinders from the early morning hours. Police and civil supplies officials quickly arrived at the scene to pacify the agitated crowd, assuring them that their issues would be resolved promptly.
Consumer Complaints Highlight Delivery Delays
One frustrated consumer reported that he had been unable to receive a new LPG cylinder even ten days after receiving a delivery confirmation message from the oil company. "The agency could not provide a satisfactory explanation, so we came directly to the depot to refill our cylinders," he stated. Other consumers echoed similar grievances, describing prolonged waits and inconsistent supply.
Official Response and Supply Issues
Sarmista Dalabehera, the marketing inspector, attributed the problem to a short supply of LPG cylinders from a specific oil company over the past two days. "I have discussed this with the oil company officials, and we expect a resolution soon," she assured. Meanwhile, in a related development, an oil company has temporarily suspended LPG supplies to a distributor in Berhampur following multiple complaints. The company cited "serious violations of the distributorship agreement" and emphasized that the suspension aims to protect brand integrity and customer interests.
District Statistics and Administrative Actions
According to sources, Ganjam district has 78 LPG distributors, with 19 located in Berhampur. Despite the local disruptions, the district administration denied any overall shortage, noting that as of Sunday, the district maintained a stock of 19,967 domestic and 1,097 commercial LPG cylinders. In response to the situation, Ganjam collector Keerthi Vasan V has ordered a crackdown on black marketing and hoarding of cooking gas cylinders at the block level to ensure fair distribution and prevent further incidents.
