Piped gas for consumers soon, says CM

TEAM HERALD

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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Friday told the House that state consumers will soon get ‘piped gas’ at their doorstep. He however, expressed his helplessness in solving the woes of LGP customers in the State claiming that the services are under administrative control of the Central government and the State is just a regulatory authority.

The Gas Authority of India’s pipeline has already reached Goa, the chief minister said. He claimed that when officials of oil companies are called for the meetings, they are non responsive to the State government’s request as they report to the Centre.

“There were no queues in front of the gas agencies during NDA regime. Let’s bring BJP government (to power) at the Centre,” Parrikar said.

Parrikar was reacting to a question raised by Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who narrated anecdote after anecdote on how consumers in his constituency were forced to face hardship, in the absence of gas dealers in the area.

Khaunte said that some of the consumers have to travel long distances to Saligao to book a cylinder as the gas agent does not pick up the phone. The MLA said the government should raise the matter with the Centre to increase the number of gas dealers in the State.

Earlier, responding to the question, Civil Supplies Minister Dayanand Mandrekar told the House that there were complaints against two of the agencies in Porvorim.

The State government had submitted these complaints to the concerned oil companies, who have already penalized the agencies.

“We can’t do anything more,” he added.

Parrikar who intervened in the discussion, advised Khaunte to give a written request to the State government for a new gas agency in the area.

“Make a complaint in writing. Run a campaign. Take signatures of at least 500 people,” he suggested.

The chief minister clarified that State government’s role as far as LPG agencies are concerned is only restricted to regulating them. “We don’t appoint the dealers,” he added.

In a written reply, the minister said that the department of civil supplies has received one complaint from the residents of Britona, Penha de France and few oral complaints over non-delivery or delayed delivery of cylinder refills by the consumers.

“HPCL and BPCL were asked to improve delivery system during a meeting at Porvorim,” he said.