Ganjam District Intensifies Fight Against LPG Hoarding with Block-Level Raids
In response to mounting allegations of black marketing and hoarding of cooking gas cylinders in Ganjam district, the district administration has announced a decisive crackdown targeting such illegal activities at the block level. This move marks a significant escalation in enforcement efforts, which were previously limited to the subdivisional level.
Enhanced Enforcement Strategy
V Keerthi Vasan, the Ganjam collector, revealed that block-level enforcement teams have been mobilized to conduct surprise raids in rural areas. These teams, led by tehsildars and civil supplies and marketing officials, aim to curb the illegal hoarding and misuse of domestic LPG cylinders. "The block-level enforcement teams, led by the respective tehsildars and civil supplies and marketing officials, have been asked to carry out surprise raids in rural areas to curb illegal hoarding and misuse of domestic LPG cylinders," stated Vasan.
To date, enforcement actions at the subdivisional level have resulted in the seizure of 107 LPG cylinders from various locations, particularly hotels and eateries. Cases have been registered against individuals found in illegal possession of these cylinders under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000.
District Crisis Committee Meeting
A district crisis committee meeting was convened on Saturday evening to assess the situation. Attendees included civil supplies officials and representatives from various cooking gas companies. The review confirmed that there is no scarcity of LPG in the district. "We request people not to rush for panic-buying of the cooking gas and spread rumours on scarcity of the LPG," emphasized the collector, who also directed officials to ensure uninterrupted supply to educational institutions, healthcare centers, and anganwadi centers.
Current Stock and Consumer Data
Subhrajit Samantara, the additional civil supplies officer in Berhampur, provided detailed statistics on LPG availability. As of Sunday, distributors in the district held stocks of 19,967 domestic and 1,097 commercial gas cylinders. Ganjam district serves a total of 8.38 lakh domestic and 5,111 commercial consumers, indicating a robust supply chain despite the enforcement challenges.
Related Action in Neighboring District
In a related development, supplies officers in Gajapati district recently seized 90 LPG cylinders, including 42 empty ones, from various companies at a house in Birikote under the Mohana block. This underscores the broader regional efforts to combat illegal hoarding activities.
The intensified crackdown reflects the administration's commitment to ensuring fair distribution and preventing exploitation in the cooking gas market, with a focus on maintaining public trust and stability in supply.
