Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified action against illegal hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders, even as officials said the overall supply of cooking gas in the state remains normal.
According to an official release, reports of unauthorised stockpiling of LPG cylinders by some individuals prompted the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department to initiate strict enforcement measures across districts.
Teams of supply department officials have been formed to conduct inspections and verify such complaints. These teams are carrying out regular checks and submitting daily reports, while district supply officers are monitoring the enforcement under the supervision of respective district collectors.
As part of the ongoing drive, inspections have been conducted at 2,136 locations across all 30 districts of the state, including gas agencies and other premises. During these checks, a total of 4,691 LPG cylinders have been seized.
Authorities have also initiated legal action, with 360 cases registered in district collectors’ courts under the Essential Commodities Act. Additionally, 31 FIRs have been filed at various police stations.
Five persons have been arrested so far in connection with allegations of black marketing and illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders.
