Purchase of gas stove from dealers "optional": OMCs

Amid continuing complaints that LPG dealers in Tamil Nadu were insisting on purchase of gas stoves from them for obtaining new connections, oil marketing companies today clarified it was only 'optional' and not compulsary.
"We have already issued a circular to the agencies not to insist on people to buy stoves along with a new connection. Customers can buy a new LPG connection without the gas stove. But they have to show us the stove at the time of inspection," an official of India Oil Corporation Limited, which markets cooking gas under Indane brand, said.
A spokesperson for HPCL also said their company never insisted on purchase of gas stove while getting new LPG connection.

"We never insist our customers to purchase LPG stove during the purchase of a new connection, provided the customers have new LPG stove with ISI mark along with the bill," HPCL spokesperson told PTI.
He, however, said customers were welcome to purchase stove along with the new connection at the price offered by the dealers if they desired so.
There have been complaints by consumers that they were being forced to buy new stoves from the dealers while taking new connection.