John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, June 05: Underweight LPG cylinders have long been a concern for consumers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, a new issue has emerged that has sparked discussions among islanders – the presence of water in LPG cylinders. Cases of underweight or water-filled cylinders have been reported in some cases in Andaman.
Residents have alleged that their gas cylinders deplete rapidly, even with minimal usage. Upon inspection, they discovered the presence of water inside the cylinders. Local media outlets have also shed light on this matter, raising concerns about the possibility of numerous unreported incidents.
Local LPG suppliers, who do not want their name to be quoted, have expressed their frustration, stating that they often face allegations despite only being responsible for the delivery. The refilling process is carried out by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
When approached, a civil supply department official claimed to have received no complaints regarding water-filled LPG cylinders. However, the department recently issued an advisory to LPG consumers and authorized distributors, emphasizing the mandatory use of check weighers or non-automatic weighing instruments during delivery, as stipulated by legal metrology regulations.
When Andaman Sheekha Daily took up the matter with IOCL, a senior officer explained that the presence of water in cylinders is a common occurrence due to gas absorption. As LPG is transported by ships in the Andaman Islands and passes through gas pipelines, IOCL regularly conducts tests. However, sometimes water settles in the base and cannot be removed during the refilling process, resulting in a chance of gas and water entering the cylinder. Although such incidents are not frequent, there is a higher likelihood during the initial stages of refilling.
Authorities are urging consumers to immediately report any instances of water-filled cylinders to their respective distributor agencies. The agency will inspect and measure the quantity of water present. In cases where a 14kg cylinder contains two liters of water, the distributor can offer a partial refund, which will be later reimbursed by IOCL.
