Crackdown on illegal LPG refilling centres

HYDERABAD: To curb the use of domestic LPG gas cylinders for commercial purposes, a team of civil supply officers raided LPG gas refilling units and sealed as many as 30 units and seized 650 gas cylinders in last five months in the city.A team of 20 members from the Civil Supply Department, Vigilance and Enforcement and government oil company officials, raided these units, seized gas cylinders and booked criminal cases against those involved, said K Vijay Kumar Reddy, district supply officer.The authorities would file cases under section 6 A of the Essential Commodities Act- 1955 and impose fine of jail culprits, he added.Last year, officials seized 1800 LPG cylinders and sent them to government oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC), he said."The gas refilling agents purchase empty cylinders.They also buy 14.2 kg domestic gas cylinders for a higher price of Rs 600 as against its actual price of Rs 343. They then use refill seven minicylinders from it using a specially prepared nozzle.These minicylinders are then sold for about Rs 500 each earning them almost five times extra," said M S Seshagiri Rao, assistant supply officer and a member of the team that conducted raids.The cost of a commercial gas cylinder is almost three times that of a domestic cylinder.A 19 kg commercial LPG costs around Rs 1500 while a 14.2 kg domestic LPG costs just Rs 343. "This is the motive behind this business," Seshagiri Rao added.Owner of a fast food centre S Ramana told Express that he buys domestic cylinders every month. He calls up a supply man of Sai Krishna Gas Agencyat Gachibowli and four hours later, a cylinder is delivered to him.He has to pay double the real cost as it is illegal. "Not only I but also auto-rickshaw drivers buy cylinders from gas cylinder supply men," he said.J Srininu, a cylinder supply man says he delivers extra gas cylinders to small restaurant owners for extra money. "I share the extra amount with my supervisor," he adds.