Government Takes Action: 642 FIRs Filed and 155 Arrests Made for LPG Hoarding and Black Marketing
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) Enforcement measures are actively being implemented across various states to combat the hoarding and black market activities related to LPG. As of now, the government has registered approximately 642 FIRs and apprehended around 155 individuals, as reported on Tuesday.
In the enforcement drive, nearly 3,400 raids were conducted, resulting in the seizure of around 1,000 LPG cylinders in just the last 24 hours.
Significant actions have been noted in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies executed over 1,500 unexpected inspections at retail and distribution centers for LPG on Monday, according to an inter-ministerial update concerning the latest developments in West Asia.
The Petroleum Ministry affirmed that all retail outlets are functioning normally throughout the country.
“Reports of panic buying emerged in certain regions caused by rumors, leading to unusually high demand and overcrowding at retail locations. The government has urged citizens to disregard these rumors and has reaffirmed that there are sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel available nationwide,” the ministry stated.
Furthermore, essential sectors continue to receive uninterrupted supplies, including 100% provision for domestic PNG and CNG transportation. Supplies to industrial and commercial consumers connected to the grid are being sustained at around 80% of their usual consumption levels.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies have been instructed to prioritize PNG connections for commercial entities such as hotels, restaurants, and canteens.
“Yesterday (Monday), over 7,500 domestic and commercial PNG connections were established or activated in the top 110 geographical areas,” the ministry reported.
In parallel, 24 States/UTs have issued directives to distribute Non-domestic LPG in accordance with government guidelines.
For the remaining States/UTs, PSU Oil Marketing firms are releasing Commercial LPG cylinders.
Since March 14, commercial entities have uplifted approximately 18,784 MT of LPG across the States/UTs, according to the ministry.
Additionally, an allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been granted to States and UTs, which are asked to designate district-level distribution points.