While licensed agencies are citing shortage, black marketers are selling a cylinder for Rs 800-1,000, when it actually costs Rs 450-500 at an authorised agency and takes Rs 350 to refill.
Gas distributors have passed the buck, citing limited supply from the Indian Oil Company depots in Assam as a reason. Distributors said the crisis was also fuelled by use of domestic cylinders for commercial purposes.
Consumers, however, questioned why gas agencies were shutting their depots with the “refill out of stock” sign when cylinders were abundantly available in the black market.
Many suspect that black marketers are selling refills in connivance with unscrupulous distributors. Consumers are queuing up in front of gas agencies in both Dimapur and Kohima from 11pm-12am.
Many have also reported that trucks with LPG refills arrive at the gas depots in Dimapur early in the morning though distributors said there was no supply.
Dimapur Municipal Council adviser for market rate and quality control cell, Atovi Zhimomi, said black marketers appear to be working in collaboration with gas agencies.
But the LPG dealers’ association said because of maintenance at Lakhowa in Assam, the supply of bulk LPG which in turn is used to bottle the LPG cylinders from Dimapur bottling plant, has not been reaching Dimpaur for a while.