TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: An RTI activist from Talpona-Canacona has accused an HP gas dealer from Canacona of harassment and rude behaviour towards consumers.
The HP gas dealer has, however, denied any harassment to the consumers, but insisted that they have been asking people to complete the formalities needed in certain transactions.
In his complaint to the Mamlatdar, the RTI activist, Pradeep Mokhadkar, stated that the HP gas agency doesn’t release new gas connections unless gas stove is purchased from his shop, which is mostly priced three times more than the actual open market price.
“Gas consumers, especially women and elderly people of Canacona, are harassed whenever they approach the gas agency with their grievances,” stated Mokadkhar in the complaint, copies of which are also marked to Gas company (HPCL), besides the chief minister, minister for civil supplies, Collector (South) and Deputy Collector, Canacona.
Narrating an incident to Herald, Mokhadkar said his mother, after the loss of her husband (in whose name gas connections stands) was made to travel over five times with queries raised every time. Finally, after all the formalities were completed, his mother was asked to remain physically present when he approached the office for the transfer form.
“He is turning away each and every one without providing correct information and shouting at them when asked to make it clear during their first visit itself. Sometimes, he shouts at people to go away,” Mokhadkar complained.
Incidentally, HP is the only gas company running a single gas agency for the entire taluka and no other gas company has entered Canacona market as yet.
When contacted, the manager of M/s Prabhudesai Gas Service, HP dealer, denied any harassment meted to the consumers, but said they are only asking people to complete the formalities needed in certain activities like transfer, KYC, etc.
When asked about forcing new consumers to compulsorily purchase gas stove at hiked price, the manager again denied having doing so.
The gas agency manager insisted that the complainant, without giving his identity, wanted to take the form of a certain consumer, which was not permitted since the person is a third party.
