The Hindu Business Line : Coimbatore drive against vehicles `misusing' LPG

The Deputy Transport Commissioner, Coimbatore Zone, Mr K. Yogarajan, said surprise checks at various places in Erode, Coimbatore and Nilgiris showed gross misuse of domestic LPG cylinders.

Of the 1,000 vehicles that were screened, 123 have been detained under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act for unauthorised use of LPG as fuel and for carrying hazardous goods (in this case, domestic gas cylinders), Mr Yogarajan told Business Line.

In Coimbatore city alone, 51 vehicles have been detained, while the remaining are reported to have been seized from semi-urban pockets such as Mettupalayam, Udumalpet, Erode, Pollachi, Gobichettipalayam and Udhagamandalam.

Of the detained vehicles, 102 cars belong to individuals while the rest are contract vehicles. The department will intensify its checks in the coming days, said Mr Yogarajan.

Oil company sources said subsidised LPG fuel was being misused not only in vehicles, but also in commercial establishments such as hotels and hospitals. While the domestic cylinder weighing 14.2 kg costs Rs 288.60, the 19-kg commercial cylinder is priced at Rs 700.

Oil company sources attribute the misuse of the domestic gas cylinder to the lack of co-ordination between departments. The absence of LPG dispensing stations in tier-II towns has led to the use of domestic cylinder for auto fuel.

Though there is adequate supply of domestic gas cylinders currently, subsidised LPG is increasingly being misused, the sources said.

According to sources, the average monthly off-take of domestic LPG cylinder (in this region) is close to 8,000 tonnes, while commercial cylinder demand stood at over 20,000 tonnes (of 19-kg capacity).

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Nod for Jet, Air Sahara for London services

SKS Ship flags off new vessel

SCI net zooms 111 pc in Q3

Coimbatore drive against vehicles `misusing' LPG

KTDFC-HM loan distribution