70 teams deployed to check on LPG hoarding in Delhi, residents must not panic: Sirsa

Amid rumours of shortage of cooking gas circulating in parts of the city, Delhi Food and Supplies minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday said there is no shortage of LPG in the capital and appealed residents to remain calm,

The minister, in a statement, said the government has deployed 70 joint teams from the police, the Weights and Measures department and the Food and Supplies department to monitor LPG availability across Delhi.

“These teams are checking stock levels at distributors and markets and will act against hoarding or unfair trade practices,” Sirsa said.

The minister said concerns had surfaced amid global supply pressures linked to disruptions in the Gulf and rumours that triggered panic buying in some areas.

“There is no need for any panic, supplies are fully in order,” he said, urging residents not to stock up unnecessarily.

The official statement said that the government has also begun regulated sales of commercial LPG cylinders following directions from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in coordination with oil marketing companies.

Under the arrangement, up to 20 per cent of average daily commercial consumption, around 1,800 cylinders, will be supplied through a priority system to essential sectors such as hospitals, educational institutions, restaurants and dairies, according to the official statement.

Distribution will be carried out through 19-kg cylinders and bookings will follow a first-in-first-out system to prevent hoarding and ensure fair access, he said.

Sirsa said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is reviewing the situation daily and the administration is keeping a close watch on supplies.

Officials asked residents to report any irregularities through helplines so that action can be taken quickly.