GUWAHATI, March 1 � LPG (cooking gas) cylinders meant strictly for domestic consumption are being openly used in restaurants, hotels and eateries in the city in blatant violation of rules and regulations even as consumers continue to have a harrowing time procuring a cylinder.
The open use of cooking gas cylinders meant for domestic purposes in commercial places exposes the total inertia of the Government, the Food and Civil Supplies Department in particular, and the administration in monitoring the situation and ensuring a sustained crackdown on the thriving black market.
A team of journalists during a drive in the RG Baruah Road area led by public activist Prof Deven Dutta recently came across rampant violations of the rules and regulations concerning use of domestic LPG cylinders. It was found out that from roadside eateries to restaurants, use of domestic cooking cylinders was widespread.
Commenting on the situation, Prof Dutta questioned the oft-repeated �transparency and accountability� in governance by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, saying that the flourishing black market going on under the very nose of the Government and the administration was ample proof of the authorities� surrender to the black-marketeers� lobby.
�If the Government cannot prevent such rampant black-marketing of an essential commodity taking place in the open, it should stop talking about governance,� he said.
Pointing out that the State Civil Supplies Department was responsible for keeping a close watch on the sale, use and transportation of LPG cylinders, Prof Dutta said that any violation on these rules and regulations � apart from the immense hardship to the consumers � was also fraught with the danger of creating serious law-and-order situations.
�Use of LPG cylinders is also governed by the Explosives Act and there are well-laid-down norms concerning their transportation and use. Any unauthorised handling of the cylinders is a punishable offence. But are the authorities, the Civil Supplies Department in particular, monitoring how the cylinders are transported or how many gas agencies adhere to the home-delivery norms?� he questioned.
Terming the occasional inspections by the department as a �farce and eyewash�, Prof Dutta said that the �beneficiaries� of the thriving black market extended to the bigwigs of the departments and the ministers, as �this alone can explain all the illegalities that are being perpetrated with impunity.�
