Madhya Pradesh: Ongoing LPG Cylinder Black Marketing Amid Stock Assurance from Government
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhopal, March 14 (NationPress) In light of supply disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia, the ongoing issues of black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders are being reported from various regions in Madhya Pradesh.
The Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection department of Madhya Pradesh undertook inspections at 11 sites throughout the state, leading to the confiscation of 228 LPG cylinders and the initiation of three legal actions on Saturday.
During a review meeting aimed at evaluating the potential repercussions of geopolitical events in West Asia, State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Govind Singh Rajput presided over discussions concerning the current situation in Middle Eastern nations.
Ajay Srivastava, the State Nodal Officer for oil companies, reported in the meeting that the state has a sufficient supply of gas cylinders, with ample stock available at the 11 bottling plants and distributors' storage facilities.
He noted that although there was a temporary inconvenience due to high demand placing an excessive burden on the servers—prompted by worried consumers ordering more gas cylinders than usual—this issue has now been rectified.
Srivastava urged domestic consumers to order their next refill 25 days after receiving their last one.
He emphasized that the country’s refineries are functioning at full capacity and that crude oil supplies are being sourced from alternatives to West Asia. Supplies of petrol, diesel, domestic PNG, and CNG will also proceed without interruptions or reductions.
During the meeting, Rashmi Arun Shami, Additional Chief Secretary of the Food and Civil Supply department, instructed that essential actions be taken to guarantee the timely provision of gas cylinders for domestic consumers and to ensure the distribution system operates smoothly through various agencies.
Representatives from the oil companies were also tasked with maintaining a consistent flow of LPG across all districts in the state.
The discussions included a review of gas agencies' operations, the punctuality of cylinder distribution, and the status of consumer complaints received.