The additional delivery charge for 'urgent' supply of LPG cylinder is nothing but a fraudulent exercise. It is just another backdoor price hike, former Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said.
"This price increase will result into artificial scarcity and thereby corruption in LPG cylinder distribution," he said.
"During Vajpayee government regime, consumers were getting immediate LPG connections and cylinders were available to all within 24 hours," he said, adding immediate supply is the right of the customer and therefore the additional charge is not justified.
Hitherto distributors were keeping shops closed only for a day but now consumers have to pay additional delivery charge on two days, Saturday and Sunday, he said.
With this decision, the government will be depriving consumers of lower income group from urgent delivery as consumers are expected to put up demand in writing or by e-mail, Naik said. The government must withdraw this decision immediately, he said.
