CAF&PD launches drive against LPG black market
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2024: With the State reeling under acute shortage of LPG since several weeks, the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) Department has launched a drive against sale of LPG refills in the black market.

Notably, domestic LPG refill of 14.2 Kg which is priced at Rs 954.50 by the IOC is sold at Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 in the black market.

As per an order issued by CAF&PD Director Robertson Asem on July 30, a team of officials led by CAF&PD OSD (POL) Haobam Bobby launched a drive against sale of LPG refills in black markets.

The team took the drive to Sangakpham and Mantripukhri areas today.

The team accompanied by police personnel first raided a shop located opposite to Manipur Gas Service, Sangakpham and they found 11 empty LPG cylinders.

CAF&PD launches drive against LPG black market

The shop owner claimed that the empty LPG cylinders belong to his family members and he produced four LPG consumer cards.

Nonetheless, the CAF&PD team warned the shop owner that he should not ever sell LPG in black market.

The team then went to Mantripukhri and raided another shop but they could not find any filled LPG cylinder.

CAF&PD OSD (POL) Haobam Bobby said that they have been carrying out drives at different places against sale of LPG refills in black markets under an instruction from CAF&PD Minister L Susindro and Director Robertson Asem.

Although reports were received that LPG refills were being sold at exorbitant prices at the two shops of Sangakpham and Mantripukhri, no evidence of selling LPG in black market could be found at the two shops, Bobby said.

He then appealed to all the people not to sell LPG in black market in any part of the State and appealed to LPG distributors to ensure regular supply of LPG to consumers.

He said that any one arrested for selling LPG in black market can be imprisoned for six months under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 .

Bobby further appealed to the people to inform the department if they come across any one selling LPG in black market on mobile no.9856179807 .

On being enquired about the sale of petrol openly in black market while most petrol pumps have put up the signboard 'petrol nil', the CAF&PD OSD (POL) said that no petroleum product is released from the depot on Sundays.

On account of August 13 and August 15 being general holidays, no petroleum product was released from the depot on those days too.

Perhaps, that is why petrol pumps are dry today, Bobby said.

There are enough stocks of fuel in the IOC's depot.

ROs may resume normal operations after receiving fuel supply from the depot today, he added.