Distribution of domestic cooking gas continues to remain disrupted for many days in different parts of the Nainital district and other areas of the region. But the Congress-led State Government, which was busy in repositioning itself in the aftermath of the change of guard in Uttarakahand recently, seemed to have no time to strengthen the public delivery system, alleged the agitating people who were facing the domestic cooking gas crisis here.
If the supply of one of the basic services i.e. cooking gas continued to remain disrupted, its impact can’t be ruled on the upcoming panchayat polls, they warned.
Meanwhile, taking note of the poor distribution of the domestic cooking gas, Akshat Gupta, District Magistrate, Nainital, has directed the officials concerned to improve the supply of aforesaid basic service as early as possible.
He asked the officials to ensure supply the domestic cooking to the door steps of the consumers, directing them to put an end to distribution of the domestic cooking gas from the gas do-downs immediately. The magistrate also asked the respective SDMs to monitor the distribution of the domestic gas cylinders in their areas in the district.
Earlier diversion of domestic cooking gas cylinders to different parts of the Garhwal division including Haridwar from the Kumaon region, created a huge backlog of the cylinders in the Kumaon division. Now, though the officials concerned claimed to have improved availability of the cooking gas, poor distribution of it has always been a cause of concern for the citizens here.
Consumers can be seen waiting for the arrival of the gas cylinders at different delivery points here. It is to note that the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) looked after distribution of the ‘Indane’ domestic cooking gas in the entire Kumaon division.
But ‘failure’ of providing cylinders to their doorsteps despite charging for ensuring home delivery by the KMVN, has only added to the woes of the beleaguered consumers, allege the agitating citizens.
“We have to wait for the arrival of the vehicle carrying the gas cylinders on the main road on the day which is fixed for delivery of the gas cylinders,” say the agitating citizens. Sometimes we get the cooking gas cylinders, but most of the times we have to return empty hands due to the poor supply of it, they regret.