Consumer forum terms panchayat member’s delivery initiative illegal
MAPUSA
As panic grips households over the availability of LPG cylinders, what appeared to be a well-meaning act of help has ignited a fresh controversy in Calangute.
In the middle of anxious residents searching for cooking gas, a social media post by a Calangute panchayat member offering to assist residents with doorstep gas services – especially senior citizens, widows, the disabled and those in need within his ward – initially seemed like a welcome relief.
The post outlined a simple process: residents who had already booked their LPG refill were asked to hand over their gas book to the panchayat member, who would then collect the payment receipt and the empty cylinder from their doorstep and later deliver the filled cylinder back to them.
But what many saw as community support during a difficult time has drawn sharp criticism from a consumer rights forum, which warned that such arrangements could open the door to illegal practices.
The Goa Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) termed the initiative “illegal”, pointing out that the delivery of LPG cylinders is strictly the responsibility of authorised dealers of oil marketing companies. “This will give rise to black marketing because only authorised dealers can deliver refills,” said Roland Martins, convenor of GOACAN.
Martins said that while the panchayat member’s intentions may have been noble, the method adopted was inappropriate and could have unintended consequences.
According to GOACAN, LPG dealers are legally bound to deliver cylinders directly to consumers’ homes and there is no provision for intermediaries to handle deliveries. He also questioned the scenes of long queues witnessed in recent days, arguing that the problem may not necessarily be a shortage of cylinders but rather lapses in delivery practices.
“This is not panic. It is a collapse of the system,” Martins said. “People are standing in queues because some dealers are not delivering cylinders at home and are trying to capitalise on the situation.”
The controversy has now reached the Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. Director Jayant Tari confirmed that a complaint had been received regarding the Calangute case.
“People have been panic-stricken for the last couple of days and someone may have tried to help out. We have referred the matter to our officials to look into it,” Tari said.
The episode has once again brought attention to the responsibilities of LPG distributors and the rights of consumers. Consumer activists have urged residents not to panic or resort to unofficial arrangements and instead demand proper home delivery from authorised dealers, as mandated under the LPG distribution system.
For the public, the message is simple: while help during difficult times is welcome, it must remain within the law – because in the LPG supply chain, even well-intentioned shortcuts can ignite bigger problems.
