Karimnagar: People’s woes with regard to LPG cylinders has been increasing by the day.
While some are finding it hard to get their gas connection linked with Aadhar for availing subsidy, some others are not getting the subsidised amount credited into their bank accounts.
Meanwhile, diversion of domestic LPG cylinders has become rampant as hundreds of refills are being seized by the enforcement sleuths and authorities concerned during raids in the town.
In the last eight days, as many as 100 cylinders were seized from different areas in Karimnagar and 64 in Jagtial. The cylinders were being used for commercial purposes, reflecting the growing menace of diversion.
Earlier, villagers from Shahnagar in Ramadugu mandal thwarted illegal transportation of 183 cylinders to Hyderabad on December 13 night. Pawar Gas Agency of Ramadugu mandal was sealed for allegedly selling the cylinders at higher rates by depriving the beneficiaries.
Very often, the gas agencies are blamed for the diversion as they do it to earn profits. It is more prominent by agencies having proximity with Hyderabad.
Some agencies, it was found, were selling each cylinder at Rs 1,400 to hotels and vehicles in the city.
Some middlemen, who are hand in glove with the representatives of some gas agencies, are also selling LPG refills for Rs 650-800 to the needy for domestic use, while one susbsidised cylinder costs around Rs 450.
“As there are few takers for cylinders in the commercial sector, the owners of gas agencies are selling them to brokers, who in turn, are disposing them in the market in lose. They are selling LPG at Rs 100 per kg at private filling centres,” said an official.
According to sources, there are at least 50-70 persons in each town in the district involved in the diversion activity.?Gas worth Rs 50-60 lakh is being diverted in Jagtial town alone.
