Jaipur, March 28 (NationPress) Rajasthan's Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma, has mandated rigorous measures against the illicit trade and inflated pricing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. He has instructed officials to file First Information Reports, initiate the cancellation of licenses, and place habitual offenders on a blacklist.

During a high-level review meeting conducted through video conferencing from the Chief Minister’s Office, Sharma urged all District Collectors to carry out daily assessments of LPG supply and to keep a close watch on the situation on the ground.

He underscored the necessity of surprise inspections and strict audits comparing stock records with actual inventory to curb any irregularities.

Sharma instructed the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, the Police Department, and other relevant agencies to collaborate on enforcement operations throughout the districts.

He also called for consistent inspections of LPG warehouses, agencies, and distribution hubs.

Furthermore, Sharma emphasized the importance of district-level helplines and grievance redressal systems functioning efficiently, ensuring all complaints are addressed within 24 hours.

He mandated that this process be continuously monitored at the Chief Secretary level.

Apart from enforcement, he advocated for awareness campaigns across social media, local media, and at the Panchayat level, while also cautioning against spreading rumors or misinformation that could lead to an artificial spike in demand.

“It is imperative to ensure daily evaluations of demand and supply,” he stated.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to strictly follow Central Government guidelines regarding LPG distribution, which includes the implementation of a mandatory One-Time Password for deliveries and accurate record-keeping through detailed diary entries.

In addition, he highlighted the need to expand the Piped Natural Gas and City Gas Distribution networks, instructing that all pipeline laying approvals should be processed within 24 hours. He encouraged industries to transition towards PNG.

Officials reported that as per the new Standard Operating Procedures, sufficient supplies of commercial LPG cylinders are being maintained.

As of March 27, a total of 3,741 inspections have been executed throughout the state, which includes 1,506 inspections of gas agencies.

The state government operates helpline numbers 14435, 112, and 181 to assist the public.

The meeting included Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, senior officials from related departments, and District Collectors who participated via video conferencing.