Fears of a shortage of cooking gas have led to panic buying in many areas, giving rise to black-market sales of LPG cylinders at very high prices.
Reports show that some illegal sellers are charging up to ₹6,500 for an LPG cylinder. In other cases, people are paying between ₹3,500 and ₹4,000 just to refill a cylinder. This is much higher than the normal price, which is usually around ₹900 to ₹1,000.
Investigations have found that some dealers are illegally diverting cylinders from authorised supply chains and selling them secretly to customers who cannot get gas through regular channels. These illegal sellers often operate from small shops such as stove-repair centres or grocery stores. In some places, they refill cylinders in hidden setups to avoid being caught.
The problem has worsened because many people are worried about possible supply disruptions. India depends heavily on imported LPG, and concerns about global tensions and supply issues have caused people to book extra cylinders or store them at home. This sudden increase in demand has made it easier for black-market traders to take advantage of the situation.
Officials say selling LPG cylinders outside authorised distribution systems is illegal. It violates rules under the Essential Commodities Act and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation Order. Authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against those involved in hoarding or selling cylinders illegally.
Despite increased monitoring, black-market traders are still managing to operate by selling cylinders only to known customers or through personal contacts. This makes it harder for law-enforcement agencies to track them.
Meanwhile, government officials have urged people not to panic and avoid booking extra cylinders unnecessarily. They said steps are being taken to increase LPG production and ensure proper distribution.
Refineries have already increased LPG output, and authorities are trying to ensure that cooking gas reaches households and essential services first. Officials have also asked the public to report any suspected black-marketing so that action can be taken quickly.
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