Kolkata Police have heightened monitoring throughout the city to stop the illegal sale of cooking gas amidst concerns about potential supply disruptions due to tensions in West Asia. All police stations in Kolkata are under strict orders to keep a close watch and regulate the movement and distribution of LPG cylinders. Additionally, police are exploring alternative cooking methods like induction cookers and microwave ovens in police barracks to address any potential shortage of commercial cooking gas.
The decision to intensify vigilance by the city police headquarters at Lalbazar follows an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with LPG dealers to assess the supply status in the state. During the meeting, CM Banerjee instructed LPG dealers to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) outlining the available LPG stock and to prevent any black marketing of cylinders.
Authorities are primarily focused on preventing hoarding and unauthorized sale of cooking gas to avert any crisis in Kolkata. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) from all divisions have been directed to closely monitor the situation and ensure that police stations under their purview maintain a strict watch. The Enforcement Branch of Kolkata Police is also actively monitoring the supply chain, with special emphasis on checking gas cylinder godowns across the city, verifying stock levels, and scrutinizing records.
Efforts are underway to ensure that LPG cylinders are not diverted beyond authorized customer orders or sold at inflated prices. Authorities are also monitoring the potential misuse of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes. Officials have issued warnings of severe consequences for individuals involved in illegal storage or trading of LPG cylinders.
In the past, police have dismantled various gangs engaged in extracting gas from domestic cylinders and refilling smaller cylinders for illicit sale or use in transport vehicles. Authorities are closely monitoring such illicit activities. Simultaneously, police barracks are being supervised and instructed to adopt alternative cooking methods where necessary to lessen reliance on LPG. Concerns over supply disruptions have heightened amidst escalating tensions in West Asia.
