AGARTALA, May 3 (TIWN): Having failed to address the LPG cylinder crisis, the food and civil supplies department would soon intensify monitoring on the distribution of LPG cylinders by various agencies.Before launching the crackdown, the department has already requested its valued customers to get their bluebooks verified at the LPG gas agency or gas companies.It also requested the customers to surrender their ‘illegal’ connections immediately if they have or the department would take legal action under the revised LPG (Regulation of Supplies and Distribution) order.

As per the revised order, a consumer is supposed to surrender its domestic LPG connection within six months of getting piped gas connection.

Sources in the department said around 15/20 percent of the total LPG ‘consumers’ are illegally collecting refilled LPG cylinders from various sources that resulted in severe shortage of cooking gas in the land-locked state.

The decision to launch crackdown against illegal use of LPG cylinders has been taken keeping in mind of the ongoing shortage of cooking gas over the past few months.

When contacted, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bhanu Lal Saha today said normally the state is having 10/15 shortage of bullets but it doesn’t have much impact on the LPG distribution.

“The back-lock of cooking gas been confined to 12/15 days due to constant vigil by the department. It means, consumers are getting refilled cylinders from the agencies”, he pointed out. Saha further added the department has formed vigilance squads to ensure normal distribution of LPG cylinders in the state.