By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Following the decision of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner (Supply) to meet the LPG distributors of the city to deliberate on a new system of booking and delivery of gas cylinders, consumers of domestic LPG cylinders are looking forward to introduction of the new system.
As per the new system proposed, a consumer would be able to book his gas cylinder a day after the delivery of the cylinder instead of waiting for 15 days for booking and 10 days for refilling which is the current norm. On certain occasions consumers had to wait for as many as 45 days or more to get a refilled cylinder.
A resident of Dhankheti said that the new system where a customer can make the booking a day after the delivery date will actually bring down the gap between the booking and the delivery dates. “Presently, I have wait for 40 to 45 days to get the delivery of a refilled cylinder but under the new system, I would have to wait for a maximum of 15 days only,” she said.
Another such homemaker said that most cities in the country follow this system of immediate booking after delivery as it maintains fairness in the process. “The move is aimed at providing timely delivery of refilled cylinders to the customers which I believe should have been in place much earlier. But, it is welcome if it comes into force now,” she added.
Another consumer, a career woman and a mother, said that during the winter months, consumption of cylinder goes up and there is always a scarcity of refilled cylinders. “I just appeal to the government to implement this new booking system soon so that we are not burdened or bothered about procuring a refill cylinder,” she said.
Meanwhile, customers have also appealed the government to look into the matter of home delivery of refill cylinder at customers’ doorsteps, similar to what is happening in neighboring Guwahati. A resident of Guwahati said that gas agencies make door-to-door visits every 10 to 15 days to enquire if there is any requirement of refills. Such a system is what is required in Shillong which is in comparison smaller than Guwahati and therefore easily manageable, echoed many residents of the city.