FIR against 3 for illegally refilling domestic LPG cylinders in Sangli

Kolhapur: Three people were booked for illegally refilling domestic LPG cylinders during a late-night raid in Sangli on Friday, as part of an ongoing drive to curb black marketing of domestic cylinders in Sangli and Kolhapur districts.Sangli collector Ashok Kakade said, "Cases have been registered against three people, one from Sangli and two from Miraj, under sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, for violating Section 4(1)(a)(b) of LPG (supply and distribution) Control Order, 2000. Strict action will be taken against any agency found involved in irregularities. The district currently has adequate LPG stocks, and citizens need not panic."The administration warned that agencies supplying cylinders through unauthorised channels or domestic gas being used for commercial purposes would attract stringent action. By Saturday evening, teams had inspected 45 gas agencies and 40 hotels, seizing materials worth Rs 71,200.Sangli district supply officer Ashish Fuluke said the district had 2,784 tonnes of LPG from HPCL, 245 tonnes from BPCL and 60 tonnes from IOCL. "Supply to domestic consumers will continue uninterrupted. Cylinders will be delivered strictly in the order of online bookings, subject to availability," he said.In Kolhapur, five teams have been deployed under district supply officer Mohini Chavan to inspect hotels, gas agencies and handcarts for misuse of domestic LPG. Chavan said notices had been served to all hotels and handcart owners, warning that criminal action and cylinder confiscation would follow if domestic cylinders were found being used commercially. Kolhapur district has 112 gas agencies and requires 26,750 cylinders daily. "Adequate stock is available, and citizens need not queue outside agencies," she added.