Amid growing concerns over the availability of small cooking gas cylinders, the Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has issued a vital clarification regarding the sale and distribution of 5kg LPG cylinders.
The department emphasized that there is no ban on the purchase of 5kg cylinders by genuine consumers, specifically migrant laborers and students, provided they follow official channels. The recent enforcement actions are strictly targeted at illegal hoarding, black marketing, and unauthorized open-market sales.
Key Highlights of the Clarification
To clear the air for consumers, the department outlined the following guidelines for different categories of users:
- For Migrants and Students: These groups can continue to procure 5kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders marketed by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). To obtain a connection or refill, they simply need to produce a valid ID proof at authorized distributorships. No permanent address proof is required for these specific FTL cylinders.
- For Domestic Consumers: Domestic 5kg cylinders sold by OMCs remain available to the general public. However, consumers must complete their e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) verification to ensure the supply reaches intended households and prevents duplicate connections.
- The Target of Enforcement: The government reiterated that the current “ban” applies only to the unauthorized open-market sale of cylinders. This includes illegal refilling shops and traders selling cylinders at inflated prices without a license.
Crackdown on Black Marketing
The clarification comes on the heels of intensive raids across the state. In recent days, the Food Supplies Department has seized hundreds of cylinders in districts like Cuttack, Jajpur, Angul, and Gajapati.
”Enforcement is only on illegal cylinders and black marketing. We want to ensure that genuine consumers, especially those from vulnerable sections like migrant workers, have uninterrupted access to fuel at regulated prices,” a senior official stated.
Advice to Consumers
The state government has urged the public not to panic-buy. There is an adequate stock of LPG, petrol, and diesel in the state. Consumers are advised to:
- Complete their e-KYC at the nearest authorized gas agency.
- Avoid purchasing cylinders from unauthorized roadside vendors.
- Report any instance of overcharging or hoarding to the local supply office.
By streamlining the process through authorized dealers and mandatory e-KYC, the Odisha government aims to eliminate the “artificial scarcity” created by middlemen and ensure a transparent distribution chain for
