L P G in SIKKIM- updates

Oil companies resume giving new LPG connections in 5 states, more to follow soon

By Sanjay DuttaSanjay Dutta, TNN | Nov 16, 2012, 02.46 PM IST

NEW DELHI: There is good news for prospective cooking gas customers in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Those who have registered for new connections till October 15, 2002, with distributors of state-run fuel retailers gas distributors in these states and who do not possess a connection from IOC, HPCL and BPCL can now avail of a subsidized new LPG connection. 

Similar facilities for customers in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura, are expected to be announced soon. The fuel retailers had stopped release of new connections, pending completion of de-duplication process by them, although registration for new gas connections were continued. The list of prospective customers who are eligible for new LPG connection at subsidized rates in the States of Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is now available with the concerned LPG distributors. 

The list has been compiled and readied after completion of de-duplication process in the above four States. The gas distributors in the states where connections have been reopened will also be sending out separate intimation letters to the eligible customers. On receipt of intimation letter, prospective customers in these States can approach their gas distributor, complete the formalities, and avail of their new LPG connection. Cases were customers have not received intimation letters, they are advised to contact the concerned LPG distributor and verify/check the status of their registration. 

For customers who had applied for a new LPG connection despite already possessing an LPG connection in the same household, thereby having given a false declaration, the OMCs will soon be initiating steps to block their existing connections and also initiate legal proceedings as per law. For convenience of customers Oil Marketing Companies have also extended the deadline for completion of KYC (know your cutomer) forms till November 30. Only multiple connection holders should submit the KYC details before the new deadline. 

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Notice

Information on LPG Service for General Convenience
It is brought to the information of all the consumers that this Corporation had on several occasions appealed the consumers to transfer their connections with their respective new distributors.
However, only few of them have actually transferred the same. Had all the consumers transferred their connections in time, there would never have arisen the present situation of massive rush of doing so now. Imposition of the capping on cylinders by the Petroleum Ministry, Government of India has further made the transfer of connection mandatory for the consumers wherein all the LPG distributors are also required to compulsorily maintain record of both the release of cylinders and its consumers.
Nevertheless, we appeal to all affected consumers that there is no reason to panic while this Corporation is initiating every measure for timely release of TTV for transferring connections with their respective new distributors, which is under full-exercise now. It is pertinent to mention here that STCS being the foremost LPG distributor in the State, around 50,000 to 60,000 consumers are originally registered with it thereby making a very heavy rush of transfer cases coming now altogether. Given such rush and to make the matter easier and convenient, affected consumers are being provided coupon and date for collection of their respective TTV on that particular date, once applied. The procedure for obtaining TTV has already been notified.
Further, consumers like Hospitals, Schools, Mid-day meals, Sikkim Jail, Police and other Organization who posses block connections against one BLUE-BOOK are required to apply for TSV (Town Subscription Voucher) for availing continued service under Non-Domestic Category (Exempted) on the rate as notified.
It is further informed here that with the efficient exercise of the State Government, this Corporation shall continue releasing refilled cylinders to the affected consumers on production of BLUE-BOOK from Our 5th Mile Tadong, East Sikkim and Baiguney, West Sikkim godowns, till such time this entire transfer process is completely accomplished. Each blue-book/ connection is entitled to three subsidized cylinders during this fiscal year ending on March 31st, 2013. After the end of this entitlement, consumers may continue avail non-subsidized domestic cylinders on the rate as notified. Please do not use domestic cylinders for commercial purpose which is punishable under the law. Moreover, regular consumers falling under our area of operation should submit KYC form and obtain subsidized cylinder coupons obtainable from STCS office at Gangtok & Baiguney, or any of its distribution teams.
It is once again informed here that this new mechanism has purely been introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum, Government of India wherein, neither the State Government nor any LPG distributors like us has any stake in such decision. We only implement the policies / decisions taken by the Ministry of Petroleum, Government of India on such matter. We once again assure you that there is no reason to panic. Please pay no heed to rumors that only enhance confusions while this office or any of its officials may be contacted at any time for any queries. In view to the present rush of consumers, special care is being taken to cater to senior citizens seeking refilled cylinders as priorities by the State Government.

We once again request all such consumers to get their connections transferred with their respective distributor which has been made mandatory now. It is however without denying the fact that every new mechanism adopted comes across initial difficulties but always has beneficial effects in the long run.
“Help us to help you in turn with better and upgraded service”
Sd/-
(S. Gyamtso Pulger)
MANAGING DIRECTOR

General information on LPG service

As all is well aware that this Corporation has been pioneer LPG distributor and uninterruptedly catering the requirement of domestic LPG cylinders for more than three decades in the State to the consumers under its subscription. However, in the recent years, new LPG distributors were appointed by M/s. IOCL with explicit demarcation of their areas of operation for the convenience of the consumers residing in various district and remote corners. It is pertinent to mention here that such consumers originally subscribed with this Corporation continued to get their normal refilling through STCS BLUE-BOOK from their new distributors till the imposition of the ceiling on subsidized cylinders by the Petroleum Ministry, Governmentof India.
Consequently, this imposition makes it mandatory that all the distributors maintain proper record of the consumers of the release of subsidized / non-subsidized domestic cylinders and its consumers thereby making it mandatory that such consumers also must get their documents transferred to continue avail normal LPG service with their respective new distributors who have now restricted releasing any further cylinders to such consumers who have still not transferred their connections.
It is at this backdrop, we once again appeal all such consumers to get their connections transferred with their new distributors to continue avail uninterrupted LPG service. For transferring their connection, consumers are required to submit their present BLUE-BOOK & SVR (Subscription Voucher Receipt) in case of lost of the same, Indemnity bond is to be submitted which is available in the STCS office. In case of non-availability of all these documents, consumers are required to lodge FIR with the nearest police station and submit an affidavit to that effect from competent oath commissioner. For the convenience of the consumers, service of an oath commissioner has been made available at the STCS office. Consumers falling under the below mentioned area which are our area of operation continues to remain our consumers and are therefore not required to get their connections transferred.
1.   North District:    Bhojoghari and upward-Entire North District
2.   East District:    Lumsay-Syari-Deorali-Pani House-Tenzing & Tenzing-Lall Bajar
3.   West District:    Entire West District and Jorethang.
In the meantime, we assure such consumers that there is no reason to panic or for any confusion as the Government is exercising every possible initiatives to ensure sufficient and uninterrupted availability of the cylinders for their convenience. Please pay no heed to any kind of rumors and for any queries, this office may be contacted any time. This Corporation with the active participation and exercise of the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Sikkim has for the time being made arrangement to provide cylinders to such consumers who have still not transferred their connections at subsidized price. Such consumer shall collect cylinder from STCS Godown at 5th Mile, Tadong and Baiguney, West Sikkim. This may also be noted here that no cylinders shall be issued without producing BLUE-BOOK.
Importantly, we once again request the affected consumers to kindly get their connections transferred with their respective new distributors at the earliest to continue avail normal LPG services. It is mandatory that consumers must transfer their connections with their respective new distributors to avoid any disturbances or hindrances in availing normal LPG services in future.
Sd/-
MANAGING DIRECTOR

Department clarifies LPG distribution and connection confusions

GANGTOK, 09 Oct: Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, convened a meeting with representatives from all the LPG gas distributors in the State today to sort out the confusion among consumers regarding the decision of the Central Government to cap supply of subsidized domestic cylinders in a year which came into effect from 14 September last month.
As per a release issued by the department, it was clarified during the meeting that for the period 14 September 2012 to 31 March 2013, only 3 cylinders at subsidized rate shall be issued to each domestic consumer, irrespective of the number of cylinders consumed till 13 September, 2012.
Any extra domestic cylinder at non-subsidized rate will be issued only after the consumption of the third cylinder of subsidized rate. The LPG Control Order issued under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 allows only one LPG cooking gas connection in one household.
All consumers having more than one connection have been requested to surrender the extra connection (regulator and empty cylinder) to the respective dealers and get their security deposits refunded, the release mentions. Multiple connections are being automatically blocked by (Indane) Indian Oil Corporation Private Limited.
KYC [know your customer] form is available on line and can be downloaded from www.indane.co.in. Consumers may fill up online or at the office of the distributor by paying Rs. 4 per form. Booking for new connection is open and those interested may contact their area distributor.
Except for the price of subsidized domestic LPG cylinder, the price of other cylinders is likely to change every month subject to change in international price of LPG, the release adds.
For suggestions, complaints, queries or feedbacks pertaining to LPG, you can call on toll free number             1800-2333-555 or www.iocl.com.

Sikkim Women’s Council discusses problems caused by new system governing LPG connections

GANGTOK, 09 Oct: Sikkim Women’s Council convened a meeting at the Council’s office under the chairmanship of its president, Paroo Lama on 08 October.
As per a press release, the meeting discussed at length the problems arising due to the new system adopted by STCS for obtaining fresh LPG connection. The meeting observed that the book in use at present is in itself an identity certificate of a person.
In spite of this, various documents are being asked by the STCS for obtaining a new book while there is utter confusion at the STCS counter where people are not guided properly while filling up the forms, the release alleges.
The Council further states that STCS has not announced where the consumers have to go for refilling their forms and adds that the notification issued by STCS is purely technical which should be properly interpreted in local language so that the public can easily understand the process.
The meeting unanimously passed a resolution to inform the concerned department and request for the required rectifications.

Subsidized LPG quota for current fiscal - 3

GANGTOK, 01 Oct: The State Trading Corporation of Sikkim, in a general notice for the interest if LPG consumers across the State, informs that the Ministry of Petroleum, Government of India, in pursuance of the ceiling of 6 subsidised cylinders per year imposed by it per household, has fixed the quota on number of cylinders under subsidized category for this financial year i.e. till March 2013 at three cylinders per household.
Households taking any more than three cylinders before March 2013 will have to pick up the additional cylinders under the non-subsidized category. When procued within a 10 km radius of the distributor’s godown, a subsidized LPG refill costs Rs. 430; the same under the non-subsidized rate will cost Rs. 952 as per price fixed by the Food & Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department.
Needless to add, the two levels of pricing also require more detailed documentation which has already sent consumers across the State in a tizzy as they try and get their LPG blue books transferred.
The STCS notice explains that distributors are now required to maintain detailed records on all consumers. The notice also recognizes that STCS being the oldest LPG distributor in the State, most of the consumers across Sikkim still hold STCS bluebooks even though they are already lifting their refills from other distributors. The price differential tied to amount of consumption now requires for these blueblooks to be updated properly and this will require transfer to proper distributors.
“It is at this backdrop, mandatory that such consumers must apply for TTV alongwith blue-book and SVR with the STCS to get their connections transferred to their respective distributors falling under their locality / area of operation as demarcated by the M/s. IOCL in order to enable the consumers / distributors to smoothly avail the above subsidized cylinders,” the STCS notice details.
Consumers are also mandatorily required fill and submit “Know Your Consumer” (KYC) forms for registration and allocation of individual consumer numbers and its subsequent authentication “which would perhaps have multiple purposes particularly for the purpose of applying ration card, etc”. This shall also facilitate the smooth implementation of the new mechanism in ensuring the consumers that they receive the subsidized refill cylinders as per ceiling without any hindrances.
Further, to make the matter easier and convenience for the consumers, the Corporation shall provide coupons and Know Your Consumer (KYC) forms obtainable from the STCS office or from any of its LPG distribution team at the time of refilling, the notice informs.
“No subsidized cylinders shall thenceforth be issued without producing such coupons and blue-books. It is therefore now mandatory that all our consumers produce or posses their valid Blue-Books alongwith the said coupons for availing the refilling of cylinders as per the above quota under subsidized category,” the notice stresses.
The notice further requests that consumers, who possess “block connection” surrender the same and apply for individual connection.

Source:Sikkim Now

Subsidised LPG connections for new customers in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar

Richa Mishra

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New Delhi, Nov 16: 

Domestic LPG customers in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, who have registered for new connections till October 15, can get it at subsidised rates.

In a statement today the oil companies said, prospective customers who have registered for new LPG connections till the said date and do not possess LPG connections from any of the oil marketing companies (OMCs), can now avail of a subsidised new connection.

Similar facilities for customers in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura, are expected to be announced soon.

However, in the case of customers who have applied for a new LPG connection despite having a connection in the same household, thereby giving a false declaration, the OMCs would initiate action to block their existing connections and also initiate legal proceedings, the statement said.

Earlier, OMCs had stopped release of new connections pending the completion of the de-duplication process, although registrations for new LPG connections were continued, the statement said.

“The list of prospective customers who are eligible for new LPG connections at subsidised rates in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is now available with the LPG distributors concerned. The list has been compiled and readied after completion of de-duplication process,” it said.

The LPG distributors of OMCs — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation — will also be sending out separate intimation letters to customers who are eligible for new LPG connections at subsidised rates.

On receipt of intimation letters, the prospective customers can approach their gas distributor, complete the formalities, and avail of their new LPG connections. In cases where customers have not received intimation letters, they are advised to contact the LPG distributor concerned and check the status of their registration, the companies have said.

For the convenience of customers the OMCs have also extended the deadline for completion of KYC (know your customer) forms till November 30. The companies have reiterated that “Only multiple connection holders should submit the KYC details before the new deadline.”