Bhubaneswar: In a continued crackdown on illegal hoarding amid widespread concerns over LPG supply disruptions in Odisha, the enforcement team of the state’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department seized 40 LPG cylinders during raids in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Acting on specific intelligence, the team conducted searches at a godown in the BDA Market area along with locations in Chandrasekharpur and Niladri Vihar. The cylinders were found to be illegally stockpiled and were reportedly being sold in the black market at inflated prices ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 each far above the standard subsidised rates for domestic use.
The operations were carried out in coordination with local police and district administration personnel to dismantle networks involved in unauthorised storage and distribution. The seized cylinders are being handed over to authorised stockists for proper redistribution.
An official from the department explained that such hoarding has surged following restrictions on commercial LPG supply to hotels and restaurants with unscrupulous elements diverting domestic cylinders for profit. “We have been intensifying raids based on tip-offs about hoarding. With commercial gas restricted for hotels, these individuals are illegally supplying cylinders to them at exorbitant rates,” the official said.
He emphasised that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders for household consumers. Booked cylinders are being delivered within three to four days. “People should not engage in panic buying or purchases from unauthorised sources,” the official added.
On Monday, the enforcement team conducted inspections of godowns at Chandrasekharpur and seized 94 LPG cylinders from an unauthorised storage facility. Similar raids were also conducted in Bargarh, Keonjhar, Balangir, and Puri districts.