No LPG cylinder shortage, don’t hoard, appeals Gorakhpur DM

Gorakhpur: Gorakhpur district masgistrate Deepak Meena said on Wednesday that there was no shortage of cooking gas in the district and warned that strict action would be taken against those spreading rumours or indulging in black marketing of LPG cylinders.Appealing to residents not to panic, the DM said people should avoid unnecessary stockpiling of cylinders over rumours about shortage. "Every consumer will receive LPG cylinders as per rules. Citizens should not believe or circulate rumours about scarcity," he said.Meena added that OTP-based booking and delivery system has been introduced to ensure smooth distribution of LPG. He stressed panic booking or hoarding can disrupt the supply chain. Gas agencies across the district have also been instructed to ensure there was no artificial shortage of LPG.The administration warned that if any instance of black marketing by gas agencies or middlemen comes to light, an FIR will be lodged. District administration acted against two gas agencies after serious irregularities were detected during inspections. In the first case, 525 domestic LPG cylinders dispatched from a bottling plant in GIDA to Ashish Indane Gas Service on Mar 10 were allegedly not unloaded fully at the agency. Officials said the truck carrying the cylinders was taken back to Gorakhpur city, where the cylinders were reportedly sold at higher prices in different areas. Following inspection of the agency's warehouse on Tuesday, major discrepancies were found, the information department informed.Based on the findings, FIR was registered at GIDA Police Station under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, against agency owner Pawan Verma, transporter Prestige Murti, truck driver Ali Mohammad and another employee.Subsequent inspection of the warehouse of Kanhaiya Indane Gas Service showed major discrepancies in the cylinder stock, confirming misuse of domestic LPG cylinders. Action is being taken against agency operator under the Essential Commodities Act, and an FIR is being registered.Long queues of people carrying empty cylinders were seen outside several gas agencies across Gorakhpur.