Bhubaneswar: In a bid to check cooking gas black marketing, the state government has imposed strict restrictions on LPG availability in the open market. Gas will no longer be sold freely, and refilling of 5 kg cylinders has been completely stopped.Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra made the announcement, attributing the decision to disruptions in gas supply caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. The conflict has led to a sharp rise in open-market gas prices, making it increasingly difficult for common consumers to procure LPG at reasonable rates.The minister stated that in view of the emerging LPG crisis, the government has decided to ban the sale of gas in the open market. Additionally, gas will not be filled in 5 kg cylinders anymore. To ensure transparency and prevent misuse, E-KYC will now be mandatory for all gas transactions.Only those who have an LPG connection registered in their own name will be able to get cylinders from authorised gas agencies.However, Minister Patra reassured the public that there is no shortage of gas or petrol in the state and no black market has emerged. He emphasised that domestic LPG supply remains stable and adequate stocks are available to meet regular household needs.
The decision aims to streamline distribution and ensure that subsidised LPG reaches genuine beneficiaries, especially amid global supply chain challenges triggered by geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The government is also accelerating the rollout of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in major urban areas to reduce dependence on cylinders in the long run.
