Haroli/Una, March 14 (Rajveer Chopra):- Residents of the Tahliwal industrial area and surrounding villages are currently facing severe difficulties regarding the availability of cooking gas cylinders. For the past several days, the general public has been enduring significant hardships due to a shortage of gas cylinders.
Local residents state that the unavailability of gas cylinders has made even the simple task of cooking meals at home extremely difficult.
People allege that whenever they visit the gas agency to collect a cylinder, they are turned away with the explanation that the stock has run out. Furthermore, they are told that cylinders will now be issued only to those individuals who have received a One-Time Password (OTP) on their mobile phones.
However, there are also many instances where individuals are turned away by the gas agency—despite having received the OTP on their mobile phones—on the grounds that gas is simply not available.
Residents—including Ajay Kumar, Sukhdev, Sakhi, Ramesh, Raman, Sohan Lal, Amit, and Kala—further allege that individuals who have personal connections within the agency, or who manage to pull strings through influential contacts, are able to secure gas cylinders, while ordinary citizens are forced to return empty-handed.
The public points out that while the District Administration continuously claims there is no shortage of gas cylinders, the reality on the ground appears to be quite the opposite. Several gas agencies have even stopped accepting bookings for cylinders, thereby further exacerbating the distress faced by those in need.
Local residents have urged the District Administration to investigate this matter and ensure transparency in the gas distribution system, so that the general public is spared from such hardships and the arbitrary practices of gas agencies can be curbed.
Residents warn that if the situation does not improve soon, they will be compelled to raise their voices and stage a protest before the administration regarding this issue.
District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC), Mr. Rajiv Sharma, maintains that there is no shortage of gas cylinders. He asserts that the current supply volume remains consistent with previous levels. Regarding the issue of bookings, he stated, "We have instructed the gas agencies to process bookings through their internal systems, ensuring that customers do not face any difficulties."