SHILLONG: The consumers of Greater Laban are facing an unusual LPG crisis in the city. The consumers of Longkmie Gas Agency (LGA) are facing the crisis which, according to them, started last winter and never improved thereafter.
This they allege is a created crisis by LGA – which is playing foul with their quota of cylinders in the black market. As a result the consumers are not getting their delivery on time although the consumers of neighbouring Riwar Mihngi Indane Gas Agency (RMIGA) which is catering to the consumers of Rilbong, Hotath Colony, Ashoke Colony, Oxford Hill Road, Dunoon Compound and suburbs of Kench’s Trace among others are getting their LPG deliveries on time.
LGA consumers said that whenever they enquire about their LPG cylinder supply, the agency cites that they are making delivery in another area under their jurisdiction. Similar comments also came from the LPG customers of Madan Laban, which actually proves LGA false as they often claim to be delivering cylinders in that area.
When contacted, sources from the East Khasi Hills district administration were even taken by surprise by such complaints and acknowledged that they had not heard of late about LPG crisis.
However, there cannot be any denial of the lack of storage capacity of states in this region. When contacted an LGA employee said that truckload supply of LPG cylinders from Assam has dropped. While countering how other gas agencies are getting truckload supplies through the same highway, the employee did not have any direct answer.
But consumers who are facing the brunt observed from their own experiences that it is becoming increasingly untenable for LGA to handle all suburbs under Greater Laban and it is high time that the authorities appoint another agency or two to look into their needs.
Meanwhile, a similar problem is also being faced by the residents of Mawprem and Jhalupara areas who receive their cylinders from Khasi Pnar Gas Agency. The consumers cited that they are not receiving their quota of subsidized cylinders on time all throughout the year causing grievances to the consumers.
