LPG dealers8217; strike ends

All the 37 LPG distributors located in and around Chandigarh, who participated in the strike, felt that the Administration was quot;unfairquot; in demanding exorbitant rents from them, which they claim, was against the Union Government8217;s directions in this regard.

Chandigarh LPG Distributors Association president Chander Mukhi Sharma accused the Administration of having failed to implement the policy with regard to allotment of godowns to them, saying the lease period was too short and rents were exorbitant. He added that since the standard godowns plan was not meeting the requirements of explosives department, the distributors were not disinterested in allotment of sites and felt helpless in the matter.

Association patron A.K. Bhatia also made a comparison with the allotment rules framed by Delhi Development Authority, where he said that while the DDA was charging Rs 5,000 as monthly lease rent for such godowns, the Administration was demanding Rs 15,000, even while the cost of property in Delhi was much higher than in Chandigarh. Besides, he said, LPG distributors in Delhi had much more business than in Chandigarh, for which they had to pay more in Chandigarh.