Civil supplies dept deploys officials at gas agencies to prevent hoarding

Panaji: The department of civil supplies and consumer affairs on Saturday deployed officials at gas agencies across Goa to ensure strict vigilance over the current scenario of the LPG cylinders after the invocation of provisions under the Special Commodities Act. The move aimed to closely supervise the supply chain and address any disruptions that could affect consumers.

Officers were deployed at 53 gas agencies across 12 talukas in the state to monitor daily LPG stock and deliveries, ensure household consumers got first priority, prevent hoarding and black marketing, and manage crowds.

A senior official at the department said that in a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Pramod Sawant, along with the chief secretary, representatives of HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL, North and South Goa collectors and district magistrates, and the director of civil supplies, reviewed the situation and developed key action plans to contain anxiety among gas consumers who were panic buying gas cylinders.

“Action was taken to ensure that consumers need not scramble to the gas agencies to get cylinders. People should be patient. The gas cylinders will be delivered to them on time,” said the official.

He added, “The supply of domestic cooking gas remains stable and adequate as per the directives issued by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas. Every registered consumer will get their gas cylinder within the stipulated time after booking.”

Reports of shortages in the LPG supply triggered panic among residents, leading many to book or buy cylinders even if they did not need them urgently. This led to long queues and pressure on distributors. The panic further swelled after the existing central govt rule that allows fresh LPG bookings only after 25 days from the previous refilling.

Some LPG agencies simplified the process by requesting consumers not to stand in the queue. An LPG office in Bicholim requested its consumers to queue their empty cylinders in line, collect the token, and take delivery once their turn came. The authorities said the step was taken to avoid crowding at the offices.

A senior official said that officials will be deployed until the situation normalises.