K'taka to form state-level squad to check LPG misuse

Hubli, May 22 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will form a state-level squad, comprising representatives from the LPG company, State Weights and Measures and Food and Civil Supplies Departments, to check the misuse of LPG gas in the state, Informing this to reporters here today, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Govind Karjol said LPG cylinders were being sold on roadsides in almost all major cities like Bangalore, Belgaum, Mysore and Hubli-Dharwad and it was an offence.

He asked kerosene hawkers to do business in a proper way. If adulteration was detected, the area officer of the hawker would be held responsible, he said.

To a question, the Minister said it had been decided to allot only 500 ration cards per ration shop in the state, instead of giving cards in bulk.

Mr Karjol, who also holds the additional charge of rural water supply, said the drinking water situation in rural areas this year was satisfactory compared to last year. The government had released Rs 209 crore for drinking water purposes in the rural areas, he added.

He said Zilla panchayats had been asked to plan surface water schemes in the rural areas instead of drilling borewells as it could spoil the ground water table.

To a question, he said Rs 290 crore due to elect