Jammu, Feb 8: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), Ch. Muhammad Ramzan today set February 21 deadline for home delivery of cooking gas within the municipal limits of twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar and subsequent phase out of spot delivery.
The Minister set the deadline at a meeting of the representatives of Oil Companies and senior officers of CAPD here today, an official statement said.
The Minister said that spot delivery of LPG in the two cities would be available only till February 20 adding that the consumers can book for home delivery on the contact numbers of gas agencies already published in print media by both Directorates of CAPD recently.
Secretary CAPD and Transport, Muhammad Abass, Director CAPD, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad, Director CAPD, Jammu, Pervaiz Malik, State Level Coordinator, IOC and R. K. Shahb, senior Regional Manager HPCL, Ashwani Kumar Gupta and Assistant Manager BPCL, Ankur Mishra were present in the meeting.
Ramzan said that home delivery in other towns of the state would started from May 15 and in rural areas by July end.

New connections
Maintaining that issuance of new subsidized gas connections is mandatory for every gas agency of the state, the Minister asked the consumers to avail the benefit after fulfilling all formalities.
He said that the rate fixed for new gas connections by all oil companies is Rs. 4364 with two filled gas cylinders at subsidized rates along with other accessories, excluding stove.
The oil companies have fixed Rs. 1450 as security for one cylinder (without gas) , Rs 150 for regulator,  Rs 432 for refilling of cylinders on subsidized rates weighing 14.2 kg  in Srinagar and Rs 420 in Jammu,  the meeting was informed.
Similarly, the charges for red book have been fixed at Rs 35 installation charges Rs 35, cost of pipe (Suraksha House) Rs 180 and charges for stove inspection purchased from outside market, Rs 200, the meeting said.
It is has been made mandatory for consumer to purchase only ISI mark stoves.

Complaints
Referring to the frequent complaints lodged by the consumers against LPG gas dealers, the Minister directed both the Directors of CAPD to take stern action against those found involved in malpractices.
He directed the concerned authorities to cancel the licenses and take steps for prosecution under relevant law, if there is enough evidence against an erring dealer. He also asked the oil companies to initiate action against such LPG dealers.
Ramzan asked all the LPG dealers of the state to maintain supply gas on daily basis and display the stocks and rates at the prominent place of their establishments.  

New dealers
To make available LPG facility to the consumers at their doorsteps, 172 new dealerships would be issued by the Oil companies across the state, the meeting was told. 
Out of these 55 would be issued under regular dealership and 117 under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen LPG Vitral Scheme (RGGLV).
Ramzan said that under RGGLV all the blocks of the state could get LPG dealership and asked the oil companies to advertise the same by February 20.
He said that establishment of new dealerships at block level would help provide LPP to the rural consumers at their doorsteps, besides curbing the black marketing.

KYCs
It was given out in the meeting that 15.70 lakh connections have been regularized under KYCs in J&K adding that only 41, 000 KYCs are pending and directions have been passed to complete the same at the earliest.
Regarding the availability of the LPG stock in the state, the Minister was told that there were adequate stocks   available in all parts of the state.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST