Officials face problems in tackling illegal LPG filling

The problem of illegal refilling of the domestic gas cylinders LPG being rampant  in the district, the officers who are tasked to stop such practice are doing nothing. As per the information, some parts of the city have been marked by the  district supply department  where the illegal refilling of the LPGs is going on. However, due to some reasons, the officials are failing to stop the malpractice as effectively as expected.

When queried over the matter, the District Supply Officer (DSO) Vipin Kumar admitted that the refilling of the gas cylinders has been a major problem in the city. “It is illegal, but the fact is that some people are indulging in it. As the refilling process costs less the people are opting for it and the practice continues. Such illegally refilled cylinders are easily available too. Such practice is most common in the areas like Premnagar. This is partly because of the fact that the college students are living there in a large number. Earlier, such refilling was done in the shops. But due regular checking by the department, the people are doing it at homes. We cannot act effectively as the women, especially of the slum areas, indulge in it and they resist together any attempt to stop the illegal practice,” he said. 

He, further, said that their teams regularly check areas. “Last month we caught some people involved in it in  Sidhuwala area. They were fined. Further hearing will be done this month,” he said.

He warned the people indulging in it of the dangerous consequences it might have. “ Refilling gas cylinders illegally can prove dangerous because of the its highly explosive nature. As it costs less the poor people and the students are opting for it. But accidents might happen any time. We are including some women personnel in such teams to tackle the problem created by the women involved in the practice. We hope this move would yield some positive results,” Kumar said rate of the commercial as well as domestic LPGs keeps escalating.

As per the Central Govt’s policy of revising the LPG rate every month, the rate of the commercial as well as domestic LPGs keeps rising with time. The cost of the domestic LPG gas is now Rs 608 while the price of the commercial LPG has shot up by Rs 30 from the earlier price. It now costs Rs 1390.