Act on oil cos for selling stoves at high rates: GAMA

New Delhi, Mar 25: The Gas Appliances Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has urged the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and MRTP to take corrective measures against public sector oil companies as they are forcing the consumers to buy gas stoves at higher rates along with new gas connections.

GAMA has alleged that in rural and hilly areas, customers are forced to buy gas stoves along with gas connections from gas agencies.

As the oil companies are authorising only a few gas stove manufacturers to supply stoves to gas agencies after taking hefty charges of Rs 10 lakh as one-time fee for one year plus Rs 100 per gas stove as commission, the consumers end up paying Rs 300-400 more than the open market rates for the stoves .

''Ministry of Consumer Affairs and public distribution should take the corrective steps by stopping the oil companies from adopting such practices as poor people are cheated,'' a GAMA statement said.

MRTP should also take appropriate action in this direction to protect the customer interest, it added.

UNI