Gas Cylinder Inspection Conducted by the Supply Department
Kakatpur 10/12 (Tushar Dixit): The Astarang Supply Department is in action mode—after cracking down on black marketing of potatoes, they have now turned their attention to domestic gas cylinders. Today, a five-member special team from the Puri District Supply Department carried out surprise inspections at various gas stove repair centers, gas agencies, and major hotels in Kakatpur and Astarang markets. The team seized four illegally used domestic cylinders from one hotel and took them into custody.
As per information, a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder costs ₹839.50. There are two categories of consumers: under the government’s Ujjwala scheme, beneficiaries receive a ₹300 subsidy, while regular consumers receive ₹17 as a subsidy. Meanwhile, commercial LPG cylinders weighing 19 kg are priced at ₹1,890 and are meant strictly for commercial users who pay the applicable tax to the government.
However, some hotel owners in the Astarang region were found using cheaper domestic cylinders for business purposes, which is completely illegal. Additionally, a few shops involved in stove repair were reportedly refilling gas illegally on the black market—an issue that has prompted multiple complaints in the past.
Responding to the complaints, Puri District ACSEO G. Prashant Rao, Additional District Supply Officer Prabhanjan Sahu, Kakatpur Supply Inspector Debjyoti Das, Astarang Supply Officer Shiba Prasad Mohanty, and Puri Sadar Supply Inspector Pradeep Sethi formed a five-member team and conducted a surprise raid in the market.
During the raid, four domestic gas cylinders (two from Hindustan Gas and two from Bharat Gas) were seized from a specific hotel. The cylinders were handed over to Priyasoo Gas Agency after recording the statement of the hotel manager. Additionally, three more cylinders were seized from a fast food outlet in Kakatpur and deposited with the nearby Maa Mangala Agency.
All business owners were cautioned to comply with government norms regarding gas usage, and officials warned that such surprise raids would continue in the future.
