By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Customers availing new LPG connections are having a tough time in the city. They complained about exorbitant rates being charged by the gas agencies for new connections.
A consumer said she had to pay Rs 4500 last month for a new connection from Longkmie Gas Agency.
Recently the same gas agency has charged her relative more than Rs 5000 for a new connection.
Similarly another customer from Nongthymmai was charged over Rs 5500.
In Jaiaw new customers said that they were told that they have to pay a starting price of Rs 4200 and above, for newer connections, if they go for higher variants.
There are also some customers who said that they were not issued forms for taking a new connection by gas agencies.
Gas agencies in the town on the other hand said that normally a new connection would cost a customer Rs 3800 for the lowest category.
However, the higher versions and stronger bodies cost more depending upon the quality and number of burners in gas stoves.
But customers alleged that there is no uniformity in terms of rates being charged by the gas agencies in the city for new connections.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, the owner of Sukbha Gas Agency from Laitumkhrah said they charge Rs 100 for regulator, Rs 900 for a cylinder i.e. Rs 1000 (refundable) for a new connection. Besides Rs 150 and onwards is charged for different diameter gas pipes apart from the gas stoves.
“Gas stoves are priced depending on the number of burners and the quality. The price ranges from Rs 1700 onwards and we exclusively deal with ISI marks Green Label gas stoves as recommended by IOC,” said the owner adding that the Green Label gas stoves save on gas. Another agency in the city also averred that new connections are charged according to the quality and variety of the gas stoves.
Similar responses were also gathered from other gas agencies elsewhere in the city. Eehcloy Gas Agency, Laitumkhrah said that it is charging Rs 1000 (refundable) for a new connection for single cylinder. The cost of the burner depends on the quality and choice of the customer.
But Sunny Indane Agency, Nongthymmai is charging a whooping Rs 2000 for a new connection, double than any of such agencies in the city. The breakup for Rs 2000 i.e. Rs 900 (refundable) for a cylinder, Rs 100 for a regulator, Rs 200 for a gas pipe, Rs 400 towards administration charges (includes issue of domestic card, mandatory monthly inspection by mechanics etc.) among other charges. Besides these charges, a gas stove is priced from Rs 1650 onwards.
It is learnt that normally the gas agencies in the town are charging Rs 1600 to Rs 1700 for a gas stove at the entry level. There are other gas stoves whose prices range from Rs 1850 to Rs 2000 and beyond for the stronger variants. Also, some gas agencies don’t issue forms for newer connections due to huge backlogs, they reasoned.
When contacted, C Nongspung, Joint Director (Supply) said that his department has no jurisdiction over these matters. He said there was a discussion earlier that all these gas stoves sold by the gas agencies have to be procured from approved agencies as outlined by the IOC.
“New connections will vary according to the gas stove quality, such as stainless steel, number of burners etc. We don’t encourage procurement of gas stoves from any outside agencies,” said the Joint Director. He also said that security deposit is refundable to a customer when he/she surrenders the gas cylinder, gas stove and other accessories for which the customer is given a transfer voucher for procuring a new connection anywhere in the country.
Interestingly, the gas agencies said there are no such IOC approved agencies for procurement of gas stoves as they get them from the open market. But customer apprehension is that they may be purchasing the lower variants at higher prices.
Meanwhile, some new consumers said that the example set by the gas agencies in Laitumkhrah should be emulated by others. A customer who is seeking a new connection said that he only paid the price of the new cylinder, gas stove and other accessories and the the gas agency delivered all of that at his doorstep. “I don’t have to stand in any queue as it is the headache of the gas agency to home deliver it,” said a customer adding this trend can be followed by other gas agencies, too.