The distribution system of the lPG agency managed by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) in Joshimath is being questioned by the locals. lPG customers living in the rural areas are facing problems in cooking meals since they have not been supplied cylinders for about three months now. Gas cylinders are being distributed from the truck that transports cylinders from the lPG bottling plant which has raised questions regarding the functioning of the authority concerned. The officials concerned are avoiding saying much on this issue.
It is pertinent to mention here that only one lPG agency is operating in the border region of Joshimath. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam operates this agency which supplies cylinders from Pipalkoti to Badrinath and Tapovan. However, this agency has reportedly not supplied cylinders to customers in rural areas for about three months now. This has raised the level of discontent among the lPG customers who are also facing considerable inconvenience due to the protracted delay in supply of lPG. The locals allege that the agency is supplying lPG cylinders to customers directly from the truck bringing cylinders from the bottling plant.
As per the regulations, the truck bringing cylinders form the plant is meant to be unloaded at the godown after which the lPG is supplied to various areas. However, this is not the case here with department personnel allegedly facilitating the distribution of cylinders as they deem apt.
Due to this, lPG customers especially in rural areas have been suffering from a protracted delay in distribution of cooking gas.
Though cooking gas is being supplied in the urban localities, residents of rural areas continue to face a short supply of the cylinders.
The villagers State that they have complained many times about this problem to the administration but the officials concerned don’t appear to be bothered about the problem being faced in rural areas.