Patna, Mar 12 (PTI) Long queues of people were seen outside gas agency offices in several districts of Bihar on Thursday, but the administration claimed there is no shortage of cooking fuel.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister DyCM Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday had said that the Centre and the state government are working to ensure adequate supply of LPG cylinders, and putting a check on black marketing.
Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM said the entire administrative machinery is proactively ensuring that domestic LPG consumers do not face any inconvenience.
“Any kind of laxity, negligence or irregularity will not be tolerated. Directions have also been issued to immediately register FIRs and arrest the concerned agencies or individuals if complaints of black marketing, hoarding or sale at higher prices are received,” he said.
In this direction, an FIR has been registered against a delivery boy at Pataliputra police station based on the complaint of a consumer, read the statement.
The consumer from Digha had complained that cylinder was not delivered to him after booking, but he received a message conveying “delivered”.
“All distributors and gas companies have an adequate supply of LPG available with them. Booking and delivery are carried out through missed calls, SMS/IVRS, WhatsApp, and OTP-based systems,” according to a post by the district administration on X.
The DM said in the statement that he held a review meeting on the issue with the area officers and field officers of gas companies, Additional District Magistrate (Supply), the Special Officer of the division, and all Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs).
He also issued a helpline number, 0612-2219810, on Thursday to ensure seamless distribution and monitoring of LPG cylinder supply, which will be open to public grievances from 9 am to 6 pm daily, officials said.
People also staged a demonstration near Lachka Pul in Bihar’s Sheohar district, alleging black marketing of LPG cylinders.
Talking to PTI, Sheohar DM Pratibha Rani clarified that there is regular supply and buffer stock of LPG cylinders in the district.
“There is no shortage of LPG cylinders. We have sufficient buffer stock, and supply is regular. We have also coordinated with the three major agencies—Indian Oil, HPCL, and BPCL—in this regard,” she said.
The DM said that there was a “small issue” at a gas agency near Lachka Pul, but that has been resolved.
“There was an agency which usually does home delivery of gas cylinders. Some people had gone there to get gas cylinders. They were clarified about the home delivery protocol, their cards were submitted, and cylinders will be delivered,” she said.
Muzaffarpur DM Subrat Kumar Sen said that there are adequate stocks of LPG cylinders in the district and there is no shortage for the moment.
“There is no need to panic. However, as a preventive measure, we have instructed SDOs, block and district supply officers to remain alert and ensure that ‘artificial crisis’ is not created out of rumours and misinformation,” he said.
The Supaul DM said that SDOs and supply officers are on alert mode in the district to prevent any kind of black marketing.
“People will get cylinders within 2-3 days of booking. They should pay no heed to unnecessary rumours. Strict action will be taken against those indulging in black marketing,” he asserted. PTI SUK RG
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