(a) whether there is a shortage of LPG cylinders in the country, particularly in Gujarat ;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to overcome the situation ;
(c) whether Government is aware that Gas Agencies in Gujarat are taking advantage of the situation and are charging more from the customers ; and
(d) if so, the action taken by the Government to provide relief to the customers ?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ ( SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR )
(a) & (b) : Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have not reported any backlog of LPG in Gujarat and say they are meeting the entire demand of LPG customers in full. They have further informed the Ministry that strict scheduling and monitoring of supplies is being done to check possible diversion of LPG to unauthorised uses.
The crackdown on the illegitimate diversion of domestic LPG to unauthorised uses is perhaps causing some disruption by unscrupulous elements but this problem is also being addressed.
(c) & (d) : OMCs have not reported any instance of overcharging by LPG distributors in Gujarat during the period April-December, 2004 except one instance where the distributor has been fined as per Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG).