Agartala: The crisis in delivery of cooking gas cylinders has deepened in Tripura over the past month as the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is unable to supply adequate number of LPG cylinders to the state.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manik Dey has urged Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy to intervene into the matter to overcome the situation. He stated that only 551 trucks of LPG cylinders– against the demand of 663 trucks–were supplied by the IOC in July. This month, only 365 trucks were received so far, an official statement said.
He pointed out that IOC had provided cooking gas connections in the state over the years and Tripura Natural Gas Company Ltd (TNGCL) had already covered a few areas of Agartala. Even then the crisis remained for the past one year, he added.
Owing to inadequate supply of LPG at agencies, people have been forced to buy cylinders in the black market run by a section of agencies. Despite the matter being brought to the notice of the authorities, there was no improvement in the situation.
He stated that supply of LPG from Silchar was also very low. Consumers in North Tripura are solely reliant on IOC and the latter was requested to open a bottling plant each at Udaipur and Manu, besides upgrading the Bishalghar LPG bottling plant. (UNI)
