Dear All, My family is a proud customer of Indane LPG for the past 24+ years in Chennai City. All reasons for being proud about being a Indane customer came crashing on the day when I received the "approved" intimation from "Anbu Gas Indane Agency" Arumbakkam, Chennai 106 for a new connection. The moment I reached the agency I was asked to pay Rs.150/-. The gentleman took the receipt or order form which was given to me on 8th November 2008 and was about to take the requested amount while explaining that, I will have to come back in the next couple of days to pay rest of the amount towards the cylinder and Regulator, which Indian oil Corporation wants to call "EQUIPMENTS".

While conversing and asking for the locality and address, he also asked what type of Gas stove I require. I replied saying I already have a automatic Stove from Butterfly which is a ISI recognised and certified with numbers 4246 - CM/L 1794068. The Gentleman insisted I will have a to buy a Gas stove from the agency. I repeatedly explained that I am already using a gas stove at home and may not require a new one.To my surprise the gentleman immediately closed the books and registered he had opened for me and refused to take the fee of Rs.150/-. I was explained that if I do not require a stove then there is a three step process which takes about one and a half months time to complete... here is the split up.

STEP 1 : A inspector will come home to check the stove which I already have and issue a certificate of fitness or usability, which will take about 10 to 15 days.

STEP 2 : After which I must take the letter to the Agency and pay Rs. 150/-. And then again wait for another 10 to 15 days for an approval from Indian Oil Corporation.

STEP 3 : I will receive a consumer number after paying deposit for Cylinder and Regulator, where I must wait for another 10 to 15 days time to receive my first cylinder I am still a bit proud and thankful that indian Oil Corporatin has trained all its Agency stafff so well that we are explained all these steps in detail. Now here is my story.... My self Agni Sharman used to live in a Joint family of 10 members where we required about one cylinder per month and so have subscribed to two cylinders in our mother's name.Recently me, my wife and our son moved to a newly built home rented from my wife's brother at MMDA Colony.

We brought with us one of the stove and Indane cylinder used at our mother's place. Being a three member family a single cylinder would easily last for almost about 3 months and so planned to apply for a new connection with the local gas agency. Applying for a cylinder was itself a difficult process as the agency refused to take any other proof of residence other than the Ration card, which too we had recently applied but not received it yet.The newspaper fellows were misdirecting me saying Indian Oil has started to accept PAN card for applying new connections.

When I visisted the local dealer I was told they are not responsible for foolishness written by journalists, and will strictly follow whatever is instructed by Indian Oil Coporation. But on the same day on (8th November 2008) on my second visit there was a senior officer at the agency who promised to help me and verified my last four years of Income Tax filing, Pan card, Passport, rental Agreeement, and rental receipts. I must say he was a real gentleman. He really helped me when I gave my situation and accepted my request. He instructed his staff to accept my request and gave me an order form or new connection request with number "111355270000491" dated 8th November 2008. I forgot to ask his name but was certainly he was the person incharge of the place.

This time around when I visited Anbu Gas Indane Agency he was not in his cabin. So I had to leave the place after thanking the "threes step someone" who explained me the three step process of how to buy Indance gas without Cooker, Stove, lighter etc.... Being christmas holidays my guess is that the Inspector will come home in about a month to inspect my ISI marked stove and may or may not approve the same.

Whatever the case may be I am really thankful to INDIAN OIL for expressing their thankfulness for being a loyal indane customer for more than two and a half decades in the same city. I have absolutely no complaints against anyone if the processes being followed is correct and is as per instructions from INDIAN OIL CORPORATION Signing off while "Wishing you all a very happy holidays this season" is... -Sharman (agni)Reply from IOCL