(a) whether the Government is aware that domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is transferred in
1-2 kilogram small cylinders illegally in various States; and
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to stop this illegal and dangerous activity ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SMT PANABAAKA LAKSHMI )
(a) & (b) : The possibility of malpractice of subsidized domestic LPG by some unscrupulous elements
cannot be ruled out due to the wide gap between the retail price of LPG for domestic use and the market
price for commercial LPG.
To check on malpractices in LPG distribution, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) carry out regular
surprise inspections at distributors premises, conduct refill audits, surprise checks at customers premises,
en-route checking of delivery vehicles, surprise quality control checks which includes weighment of cylinders
carried out at the distributors godown etc. If any malpractice by distributors is detected, action is taken
in accordance with the provisions of the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG).