Over 100 LPG cylinders seized from black market sellers in Mumbai by Food Distribution Department

MUMBAI: The Food Distribution Department conducted a crackdown on a gang involved in the black marketing of domestic and commercial gas cylinders in the Worli area, seizing a significant stock, officials reported on Saturday. The joint operation, carried out by the Controller Food Rationing Office squad along with officers from Office No. 21, focused on the illegal stockpiling and sale of gas cylinders at inflated prices in the 'Suraj Vallabhdas Chawl' area on Ganpatrao Kadam Road near Worli Naka, accordint to news agency ANI. Authorities confiscated 64 filled 4-kg and 19 filled 12-kg cylinders of Super Gas Company, as well as six filled and 58 empty 5-kg cylinders of HP Gas Company.

In addition, 25 empty cylinders of various sizes—12 kg, 4 kg, and 2 kg—were seized. This action comes amid a nationwide rise in LPG cylinder prices, largely due to supply chain disruptions resulting from the ongoing West Asia conflict. Meanwhile, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma assured on Thursday that the domestic supply of LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene, and natural gas remains stable.

Citizens have been urged to avoid panic booking and conserve fuel. To curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders amid rising global energy concerns linked to the West Asia conflict, the Central government instructed oil refineries nationwide to increase LPG production and introduced a 25-day inter-booking system on March 10. The additional production will be directed to meet domestic household demand and help stabilize supply in the coming months, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated on Monday. In a post on X, the ministry said oil refineries have been instructed to enhance LPG production and prioritise the extra output for household consumption. "In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on the supply of LPG, the Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use. The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced a 25 day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing," it said.