It may not be an exaggeration to say that none of the cylinder delivery men carry the weighing scale, which is a mandatory.
How many LPG cylinder delivery men are carrying weighing scales to weigh the cylinder before delivering it to the consumers in Bangalore? It may not be an exaggeration to say that none of the cylinder delivery men carry the weighing scale, which is a mandatory.
Recently, the Supreme Court directed the petroleum ministry to instruct oil companies to ensure that the LPG delivery man carry the weighing equipment and the cylinder is delivered to the customer after showing the weight of the LPG in his/her presence. The Supreme Court passed the order after the ministry gave an undertaking to this effect.
The apex court directed the authorities to carry out advertisements in Doordarshan and other electronic media to create awareness on the rights of consumers to measure the weight. Empty cylinders should be made in standard specifications to ensure that the consumers were not misled by different measurements.
Advising the consumers to complain to the department of legal metrology whenever they found any discrepancies in the quantity of LPG, Shivabasavaiah, controller of legal metrology, said clearing doubts on the weight of LPG cylinder is the responsibility of LPG cylinder delivery man.
“Consumers should insist on weighing the LPG cylinder before accepting it. They are at liberty either to refuse or accept the faulty cylinder or demand the delivery man to bring another LPG cylinder,” said Shivabasavaiah.
The department of legal metrology had registered 13 cases in 2011-12 for supplying LPG cylinders weighing less than 14 kg. “We have registered five cases in the last seven months against LPG dealers for supplying LPG cylinders weighing less than 14 kg,” said Shivabasavaiah.
Javed Moin of Ananth Gas Agencies said the rule of carrying weighing scale has been in force for many years. “It is a must. While taking delivery at home, the consumers must ensure the cylinder is weighed. I know that many a time, the delivery men fail to carry the weighing scales,” he said.
Stating that the gap between demand and supply of LPG cylinders is the main cause for consumers hesitating in insisting weighing of LPG cylinders, Moin said the lack of awareness is one of the reasons for delivery men getting away with flouting the norm. “I have been distributing pamphlets to create awareness among the LPG consumers, but in vain. They are not evincing interest to complain whenever the delivery men fail to weigh the cylinders before delivering it to them,” he said.
The rule of carrying weighing scale applies not only to private gas agencies, but also to agencies maintained by the government. For example, delivery men working at a gas agency maintained by KSFC Indane Gas—a Karnataka government undertaking—do not carry weighing scales.
‘Oops! I forgot’
“I have forgotten to bring it. I kept it at the office since arrangements were made to perform pooja to the weighing scale and other equipment to mark ayudha pooja,” said Puttaswamy, a delivery man.
Many consumers complain that they are not in a position to check the weight of the LPG cylinders since there is an inordinate delay in their supply. “There are occasions where some of the LPG cylinders are not sealed properly,” said Fathima, a housewife.
Now, maintaining domestic gas customer card has become a mandatory. Consumer has to pay Rs40-Rs45 to get the card. The delivery man has to sign on the card whenever he supplies the LPG cylinder to the consumer.
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