The switchover to clean fuel requires the installation of authentic “LPG gas-kits”. This has to be done by authorised dealers who have the mandatory authorisation —- “approval” certificates from Centre and state governments. Legal sale and retrofitment of LPG/CNG kits cannot be carried out without the valid approval certificates of the state government. But it has become a frustrating experience for the dealers who had applied for the approval certificate of the state government way back in 2006. “The matter is pending since 2006 due to unexplained reasons,” said Chinmay Chakraborty, distributor of a reputed LPG gas kit company.

Ten kit dealers today filed a joint petition to Sumantra Chowdhury, principal secretary of the transport department, and ML Meena, principal secretary, environment department. The state transport department had also floated tenders for selecting retrofitment dealer but the bids were cancelled and rescheduled once again.

“A dichotomy prevails here. The transport department floats a tender for sellers and fitters of LPG gas-kits. But it itself has not granted the mandatory authorisation to the participants of the bid. This makes the whole process a farce as legally none of the participants (in the tender) are allowed to sell the kits,” said Chakraborty.