200 LPG gas cylinders confiscated

Amritsar, Jan 16 (PTI) The district administration todayconfiscated more that 200 LPG gas cylinders during raidsconducted at various gas agencies and kerosene depots heretoday, police said.

The raids were carried out in order to curb blackmarketing as a large number of complaints regarding faultysupply of LPG gas and kerosene were received during winter,Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu told reporters.

FIRs were lodged against the agencies and depots fromwhere the illegal cylinders were seized, he said.

91 depots were raided to check the status of kerosene oilsupply and out of them irregularities were observed in 20depots, Pannu said, adding, show cause notices were issued toall the defaulters and licenses of eight depot holders weresuspended.

In a joint operation with District Transport Department,the Civil Supply Office challaned the vehicles in whichillegal LPG kits were installed and confiscated machines thatwere used by shopkeepers to transfer LPG from domesticcylinders into cars, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Pannu said in the last few days banquet halls and resortswere raided to check the misuse of domestic gas cylinders.

These establishments have been issued warning and are beingcontinually checked to prevent the usage of domestic cylindersfor commercial purposes.

The process of door to door verification of LPG gasconnections has also been started, he said, adding, officialsof the food supply department have been asked to personallyoversee the supply of gas cylinders from the agencies.

He said Amritsar is the first district in Punjab wherenearly 12,000 quintals of illegally hoarded sugar wasconfiscated in the last few weeks from black marketers andwas auctioned and made available to people at affordableprices.