Offices of LPG distributors thronged by the customers seeking clarifications
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has made it mandatory for LPG consumers to submit RR numbers and copies of APL cards to continue getting LPG supply. The offices of LPG distributors have been thronged by the customers seeking too many clarifications from the staff, who are also unclear about the department’s intention in collecting the RR numbers. For the last four days, the offices are abuzz with customers seeking clarifications on documents they should submit.
Gajendran, a resident of Someshwara extension, said that despite repeated enquiries with the staff at the distributor’s office, he could not get information on which document he should submit in lieu of the APL card, which he did not have.
To clear the confusion, the department has supplied two separate forms for those with APL cards and those who do not have them. A few distributors are taking details as per these forms. Those who do not have APL cards should submit only RR number and LPG consumer number.
The Food and Civil Supplies department wants to link the ration cards (Above Poverty Line) with RR numbers so that it can weed out bogus cards. The department wants to emboss RR numbers on ration cards. After obtaining RR numbers from people, the department will verify the authenticity of every ration card. If there are two ration cards with the same RR number, such cards will be cancelled. Oil companies or gas agencies are using this method to weed out bogus LPG connections.
Another major confusion among the consumers is about those residing in rented houses, which share a single electricity meter. In this case, all residents have to provide RR number of the same meter. However, homes sharing a single meter is against the rules. The distributors have no mechanism to issue acknowledgments to customers who file the documents. Those who want acknowledgments have to carry duplicate copies of the documents they submit. The distributor will put his signature on the copies as acknowledgement.
The distributors also have their grouse against this system. They feel the department is harassing them with the task of collecting the data, only because the department has control over them.
But the response has been poor. Despite the threat of disconnection, the LPG (domestic) consumers in Bangalore don’t seem to have taken the mandatory disclosure of the RR numbers seriously. Only a few consumers have so far disclosed their RR numbers.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has launched a toll-free phone line (1800-425-9339) to receive customers’ complaints and clarify their doubts. But the common complaint is that either the line is always engaged or the call is never answered. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shobha Karandlaje has extended the deadline by 10 days from January 29, the previous deadline.
APL cards, Bangalore, Bangalore LPG Connection, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Gas connection, illegal use of domestic gas cylinders, LPG Gas Connection, LPG Gas Connection in Bangalore, Submit RR numbers and copies of APL cards
[...] city to submit details to cylinder distributing agencies. However, as the agencies themselves are confused about the guidelines, card-holders were left in a [...]