Imphal, October 18 2009: Inspite of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) authorities making hectic efforts to ensure adequate availability of cooking gas, black-marketing of the essential item continues to thrive here in the State.

A random investigation conducted by the Sangai Express on how domestic LPGs are plentiful in the black market despite the fact that genuine consumers face acute shortage of the same has led to strong suspicion of malpractices by the distributors.

During the course of the investigation it came to light that there is huge disparity between the number (quantity) of filled LPGs supplied through the Sekmai Bottling Plant to the distributors and the number issued to the consumers on the day of delivery.

Records maintained by The Sangai Express, based on information provided by the respective distributors, suggest that 19,312 filled cylinders had been distributed to the consumers in August this year while the number for September stands at 34,882 .

Moreover, it is informed that for para-military forces, Nambol Gas Agency gets 612 filled LPGs on monthly basis from the Sekmai Plant whereas Red Shield, Leimakhong provides 306 filled cylinders for the same period with another 306 filled cylinders supplied under the aegis of IGAR (S).

However, Manager of the Sekmai Plant disclosed that every month the quantity supplied to the distributors stands at 1400 metric tonnes of LPG which is about 98,592 filled cylinders.

Comparing LPG quantity procured from the Sekmai Plant with that of the number of filled cylinders distributed to the consumers, there is a huge difference of about 66,499 cylinders every month.

Therefore, it could be safely concluded that the missing filled cylinders find their way to unauthorised LPG dealers and hence sufficient availability of the essential item in the black market, but at exorbitant prices.

The Manager further confided that on an average 6000-7000 filled cylinders are loaded in LPG carriers on the day of delivery by the distributors.

While clarifying that distributors are not allowed to load leaked cylinders, he also advised that in case of leakage at home it might be because of use of regulators not certified/authenticated by the IOC.

The official further described as disturbing consumers relying on home delivery agents rather than following the norm of booking and acquiring the same through the distributor concerned.

He asserted that dependence on home delivery system is another factor for the black-marketers fleecing the gullible consumers.

The manager, however, conceded that the IOC is yet to take the initiative for maintenance of cylinders.

Shortage of cooking gas has been dogging Manipur for long.

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