Bhubaneswar: Upset over prolonged delays in LPG cylinder supply, the residents of Sundarpada in Bhubaneswar queued up outside a gas agency on Saturday, accusing the distributor of diverting domestic cylinders to the black market.The local residents alleged that despite booking cylinders weeks in advance, many received delivery confirmation messages on their cellphones without actually getting the supply. Several said they have been waiting for nearly a month.“I booked a cylinder on March 6. About a week later, I got a message saying it was delivered, but I received nothing. When I contacted the agency, I was asked to collect it from the office. But when I reached here, I was told there is limited stock and those who booked earlier would be given priority. They claimed the delivery message may have been sent by mistake,” said Ashok Palit, a resident.Another customer, Sujata Sethy, said she neither received the cylinder nor made any payment, yet the subsidy amount was credited to her account. “How can subsidy be credited if I have neither paid nor received the cylinder,” she asked.Tensions escalated as the agency staff initially informed the crowd that only 28 cylinders were available for the day. The outlet was shut within a few hours as the number of agitated customers swelled.The dealer could not be reached for comment.Airfield police said a complaint has been registered against the distributor for alleged delay in supply and diversion of cylinders to the black market. “An inquiry is underway,” a senior police officer said.Food supplies and consumer welfare principal secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh said prompt action would be taken upon receiving complaints. “The authorities concerned are actively probing irregularities in LPG distribution. Raids are being conducted based on complaints. So far, over 100 raids have been carried out and around 1,500 cylinders seized,” he said.Earlier this week, civil supplies minister Krushna Chandra Patra maintained that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in the state.
