Directives issued to address LPG & fuel issues in Sikkim

GANGTOK, : Food & Civil Supplies minister Bhoj Raj Raichaired a meeting between the Food & Civil Supplies department, LPG distributors and petroleum pump dealers of all six districts of the State on March 6 at Tashiling Secretariat here.

A press release informs that the meeting was attended by Tenzing T. Kaleon, secretary-in-charge, F&CSD, Tarzan Subba, MD, STCS and senior officials from Legal Metrology Unit & Consumer Protection Cell (LMU & CP Cell) and STCS.

The meeting is in continuation to the earlier coordination meeting held with Oil marketing companies (OMCs) of IOCL, HPCL and BPCL, to address issues related to LPG, diesel and petrol on February 25 this year.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted that the State's LPG supply system requires improvement to become a robust and reliable distribution network. In this regard, he directed all the LPG distributors to: 1) display the weight of LPG cylinder refills to customers before sale; 2) charge only the oil company-notified rates; and 3) issue detailed cash memos for all charges.

Also, recognizing that illegal migrants are contributing to the increased black-market demand for LPG, the minister directed the distributors to immediately cease such illicit sales. He advised that black marketing diverts resources from official distribution channels which exacerbate shortages and make it harder for legitimate residents to access essential supplies.

Further, the minister directed all stakeholders to maintain sufficient stock of LPG and petroleum products during the ensuing monsoon season.

All LPG distributors were directed to actively promote the conversion of Single Bottle Connections (SBCs) to Double Bottle Connections (DBCs). Equipping customers with two cylinders provides a crucial two-month fuel buffer, significantly mitigating the impact of potential supply disruptions during disaster-prone monsoon periods. This proactive measure will enhance household resilience and ensure uninterrupted access to essential cooking fuel.

In line with the views of the Chief Minister of Sikkim, the minister likewise directed all petrol pump dealers to strictly maintain hygienic washrooms for both male and female genders with clean running water for customers.

The minister has issued stern warnings of action if the LPG distributors and petrol pump dealers fail to comply with the directives of the government, the release mentions.