Kota (Rajasthan), March 13 A shortage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders, triggered by panic amid the conflict in West Asia, has affected the coaching hub of Kota, where around 4,000 hostels and over 500 mess facilities serve about one lakh students preparing for competitive exams.
District Collector Piyush Samaria issued directions on Thursday evening to ensure regular LPG cylinder supply to domestic consumers, hospitals, and coaching institutions (with hostels), while imposing strict restrictions on the sale and supply of commercial LPG cylinders to other commercial establishments.
Following directions from the state government, Samaria also ordered the formation of committees to ensure a smooth supply of LPG cylinders in the district and prevent hoarding and black marketing.
According to the order, a district-level LPG committee will include the district supply officers (first and second), the deputy superintendent of police (DySP) of the concerned area, and sales officers of oil marketing companies – Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
Similarly, the sub-divisional level LPG committee will consist of the sub-divisional officer concerned and the DySP of the respective area.
The district collector directed the committees to review the stock available with gas agencies and the waiting period for LPG refills. Strict action will be taken against those involved in illegal hoarding, black marketing, or charging prices higher than the prescribed rates, he said.
Regular inspections will be conducted to prevent the commercial use and diversion of domestic LPG cylinders. It will also be ensured that customers receive a second cylinder only after an interval of 25 days, according to the order.
Ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to hospitals and educational institutions (including hostels) as per rules will be a priority for the committees, the order said. They will also monitor the proper implementation of the e-KYC and delivery authentication code system at gas agencies to ensure LPG distribution only to genuine consumers.
Samaria also directed that a district-level control room be operated by the office of the district supply officer.
In case any irregularity is found, committee members have been authorised to seize LPG cylinders and take legal action under the LPG Control Order, 2000.
Meanwhile, people associated with hostels and mess facilities claimed they are facing severe difficulties in meeting the demand of around 600-700 LPG cylinders per day for cooking food for coaching students.
The district administration had earlier assured them of a special quota following the onset of the LPG shortage. However, they have not yet received any cylinders or the required format for allocation and are being forced to purchase cylinders in the black market for Rs 3,000-3,500 to meet daily food requirements, Naveen Mittal, president of the Kota Hostel Association, told