DM warns of ESMA against hoarders, black marketers

Patna: District magistrate (DM) Thiyagarajan S M on Saturday reviewed domestic LPG supply with heads of hospitals and educational institutions, stating that distributors and companies maintained sufficient stock and people must avoid panic booking.

The DM warned that the administration would apply the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against persons involved in black marketing, hoarding, or overcharging.The administration designated the civil surgeon and district programme manager (health) as nodal officers to coordinate with hospitals, including IGIMS, AIIMS, PMCH, NMCH, and ESIC, to prevent service interruptions for patients. For academic centres such as IIT, NIT, and NIFT, the additional district magistrate (supply) and special officer rationing were assigned to monitor distribution and remain in contact with service providers.

The DM ordered the officers concerned to ensure regular supply to Kasturba Gandhi Residential Schools, hostels, children’s homes, anganwadi centres, and prisons. Total 28 flying squads led by supply officers are now monitoring distributors and conducting inspections based on consumer feedback.District administration has established a helpline, operational from 9am to 6pm, to record complaints in a formal register for shift-wise response.

Following a complaint from a consumer in New Tarapur, Danapur, where a delivery boy allegedly sent a false delivery confirmation message without providing the cylinder, the police registered an FIR against him.All sub-divisional officers were instructed to keep local control rooms functional and maintain coordination among stakeholders. The deputy development commissioner was directed to oversee the entire monitoring system to ensure supply to students and residents.