Bhubaneswar: A joint team of officials from Food and Supplies department, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police seized a large number of LPG cylinders during a raid in Odisha’s capital city on Wednesday.
The gas cylinders were secretly stored inside a wood depot in Samanatarapur area. Supply officials confirmed that 10 filled domestic LPG cylinders, around 60 empty cylinders and 17 empty 5kg cylinders were found, though the number is expected to rise as the counting continues.
The raid was carried out after BMC received a tip-off about illegal hoarding and sale of LPG cylinders. After inspecting the godown meant for storing firewood, the team found several gas cylinders of varying weights such as 5kg, 15 kg and 19 kg and of different compa
nies. Officials said these gas cylinders were being sold at inflated prices of Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 to roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants, amid restrictions on supply of commercial cylinders.
The official also flagged the safety concerns of storing gas cylinders without proper licences, which could prove fatal. “This is an unauthorised storage and they do not have any permits to house flammable products such as cylinders here. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this,” he said.
hose found guilty will be charged under Essential Commodities Act. For now, officials are tracing the owner of the godown, who will be questioned. Efforts are on to identify and arrest the persons responsible for the illegal hoarding and black marketing. A vehicle without a rear number plate has been recovered, possibly used for transportation. Further probe will focus on the alleged nexus between distributors, gas agencies and others.
This raid was part of a statewide crackdown on LPG black marketing and hoarding, intensified amid concerns over potential supply disruptions through key routes like the Strait of Hormuz due to tensions in West Asia.