Shri Deora added that in the process of supplying refill to 11.3 crore LPG consumers, some complaints are received. He also said that it is the endeavour of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to provide complaint free service to customers.
Shri Deora further said that Surprise Quality Control Checks which includes weighment of cylinders are carried out at the distributor godowns and weight checking of filled cylinders in transit is being done by the field officers to check pilferage/presence of any underweight cylinders. The distributors have also been instructed to satisfy the customers about the correct weight of cylinders by weighing them, to ensure that the seals are verified & shown to the customers at the time of delivery. In case any under-weight cylinder is received by the customer, such cylinders are replaced free of charge by the OMCs. Industry has also invited a Global Expression of Interest for development of an Anti Pilferage Device.
Government has enacted “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000†and formulated “Marketing Discipline Guidelines, 2001†which provide for penal action against erring LPG distributors. Accordingly, MDG, 2001 were issued and made effective from 12.04.2001 to take action against erring distributors for serious malpractices like diversion of domestic LPG cylinder for non-domestic use, recovery of unauthorized charges from customers, supply of underweight cylinders, etc.
MDG, 2001 provides inter-alia following action against erring LPG distributors for major offences:
- Fine of Rs. 20,000 plus the price of LPG diverted at commercial rates for 1st offence.
- Fine of Rs. 50,000 plus the price of LPG diverted at commercial rates for 2nd offence.
- Termination of the distributorship for 3rd offence.
In addition to the action taken by the OMCs, State Governments are also empowered to take action under the LPG (Regulation of Supply & Distribution) Order, 2000. Similarly, the Weights and Measures Departments of the States/UTs initiate legal action against those LPG distributors found supplying under-weight LPG cylinders.
India
Complaints and action taken against Oil Marketing Companies
Special Correspondent - 2010-02-23 16:35
New Delhi: Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, The Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora has said that OMCs have reported that based on the established complaints for various irregularities, action has been taken in 2547 cases including termination of 74 distributors in the country during the year 2008-2009 and between April and December, 2009 under the provisions of MDG/Distributorship Agreement. An amount of Rs. 1727.17 lacs has been imposed as penalty on the erring LPG distributors under the provision of MDG during the same period.