LPG delivery boys fleecing consumers

Kurnool: When a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder was delivered at the residence of J Krishna in Kallur, he paid the delivery boy Rs 30 as a tip over and above the bill amount of Rs 706. But, he demanded Krishna to pay Rs 50 for delivering cooking gas cylinder at his house. 

The delivery boy relented only after Krishna cited the rule book, which does not allow distributors of public sector oil companies to collect LPG cylinder delivery charges if the consumer’s house is located within distance of 15 km.

Though many households pay a nominal tip of Rs 20 to the delivery boys, of late, a few delivery boys have been rudely demanding to pay Rs. 50. “I don’t mind paying them a nominal tip for lifting the heavy cylinder and keeping it in the kitchen.

But I can’t pay a hefty amount,” said a housewife who did not wish to be identified. Though the LPG cylinder weighs 14.2 kg but the gross weight of a cylinder is around 30 kg. Many consumers cough up the sum demanded by the delivery boys so that they do not delay the delivery next time.

However, the District Civil Supplies Officer (DSO), S Padmasri, clarified that LPG distributors and delivery boys cannot demand delivery charges if the consumer’s house is within a 10-km radius. “If the cylinder has to be delivered to a destination beyond 10 km, the delivery boy can charge nominal amount, she said. No extra charges can be collected even if the house is in the top floor,” he stated. 

The DSO said it is criminal offence under the Essential Commodities Act to collect unreasonable tips from consumers. Padmasri has mentioned the department can register a case against the distributor if the consumer lodges a complaint against the delivery boy.

According to the sales manager of an Indane LPG gas, distributors are given Rs 49 for every cylinder as operational costs, and this includes the delivery charges. He further said that, free delivery would be made within a 15-km radius. 

If any delivery boy demands more than the bill amount, he advised the consumers to lodge complaint. Around 80 such cases have been sorted out in a span of three months, he added.

But, P Venkateshwara Reddy, owner of Sri Venkateshwara Gas Services speaking to The Hans India said the distributors have to manage the rental of their office space, godown, staff salary, vehicle maintenance and fuel, besides the delivery of cylinder, using this money. “The delivery cost given for each cylinder is only Rs 15,” he clarified.