AGARTALA, May 20 (TIWN): The 120-hour strike called by Northeast LPG bulk Transporters’ Association has severely affected the supply of cooking gas in landlocked Tripura.
As of now, the backlog of LPG cylinders stood at 40 days, which was around 30 days before the strike and this is because of the disruption in supply of bullets.
After the withdrawn of strike, bullets have stated coming from Bongaigoan, Numaligarh and Guwahati refinery plants to boost the supply of refilled LPG cylinders. However, it will take time to normalize the supply of LPG.

“Today, a total of 17 bullets have arrived at Bishalgarh gas bottling plant, which is more than that of normal supply. To reduce the backlog, the authority introduce two-shift work schedule at the plant to increase production”, said an official here today.

According to reports as many as 60 bullets are on the way to the plant at Bishalgarh. Altogether 306 cylinders could be refilled from one bullet.

“The shortage of LPG cylinders in the state is expected to be neutralized by next one month since the supply of bullets has been increased substantially since yesterday”, he said. And, the LPG crisis will persist untill supply of bullets is being normalized.

As part of its expansion plan, the Indian Oil Corporation has decided to install a big-size gas bottling plant to address the perennial trouble for LPG cylinder.

“We have sought a plot measuring 25 acres to set up a new-big-size plan keeping in mind of the future demand. The state government has proposed to examine a plot near Konaban for the purpose. The matter is yet be settled”,  said an official of IOC.

Once the big-size plant is established, there will be no need to have Bishalgarh plant, according to the plan. Besides, the IOC has given letters of intent to open LPG distributorship in seven places- Hejamara, Chailengta, Kamalghat, Madhupur, Nutan Bazar, Gandhigram and Maharani.