HP Government warns black marketeers, hoarders

Shimla, Jul 11 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala today warned black marketeers and hoarders against any malpractices that create scarcity of essential items.

Mr Dhawala directed the department officials to prevent black marketing and hoarding of essential items and said any business indulging in malpractices would be taken to task.

Referring to his two-day campaign against hoarders, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister in a release here stated that records of a few fair price shops under the PDS system were sealed and investigations were on to investigate any malpractices.

He also warned bus owners who were mixing subsidized kerosene oil with diesel, besides action against the employees of the government depots who were indulging in its black marketing.

Directing the local gas companies to ensure ''proper distribution'' of gas cylinders to the consumers, he said those companies selling cylinders on roadside would be penalised.

The Minister said action would also be taken against those hotels and dhabas owners who were using domestic gas cylinders for cooking instead of the commercial cylinders.

The campaign against black marketing would continue in future too, he added.

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