RTI applicant alleges gas agencies of exorbitant price for new connections

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IMPHAL May 6: In a new development to an RTI application,  A. Kishorjit of Haobam marak, Irom Leikai, Imphal, who had filed an RTI application to the State Public Information Officer of the consumer Affairs, food and public distribution department seeking information on applying for a new gas connection has alleged that agencies are charging exorbitant price for a gas connection. A press conference was held somewhere at Imphal west, today. Incidentally a news report was published on several local dailies on April 18 in relation to the same issue.
He said according to the RTI information provided to him that the price of a new connection is Rs. 1435 including service charge of Rs. 435 of which the gas agency may charge from each customers, if the population of Imphal city is about less than 10 lakhs according to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. However, without any regards of the guidelines of provided by IOCL, the agencies are charging exorbitant prices ranging from Rs. 5200 to Rs. 5800 for a new gas connection with single cylinder and Rs. 8800 for a new gas connection with double cylinder, he alleged. Talking to media persons, he said that he had conducted a personal survey in public interest, on April 28 and April 29 on several gas agencies, which are operating in Imphal east and Imphal west district.he accused gas agencies of distributing filled domestic LPG gas cylinder to commercial enterprise stealthily through black market and thereby depriving bonafide domestic consumer of getting their monthly quota of filled Domestic LPG gas cylinder regularly.
A memorandum in this connection was submitted today to the Governor seeking his intervention for depriving the public of their rights by some vested interest.
He demanded that a strict regulation should be adopted by the concerned authority and any person responsible for malpractices should be punished as per rule of law. He alleged that gas agencies in connection with Public authority concerned are corrupting and violating the norms and conditions set by Indian Oil Corporation limited. He condemned the civil society organizations for being silent on this matter, who voiced against unnecessary price rise of consumer commodities during festivals. He added that a memorandum is submitting to IOCL also in this connection very soon. He also appealed the general public to voice against such corrupt activities.

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