NT Reporter
Ponda
In a raid conducted on an illegal storage unit in Saligao, 164 LPG cylinders were seized while five Rajasthan natives were caught decanting gas from one cylinder to another.
Civil Supplies Minister Ravi Naik on Tuesday said that the scam is widespread in the state and urged consumers to stay alert.
Addressing a press conference in Ponda, Naik said the raid was carried out from 7.35 pm to 1 am on Monday after reports of unauthorised gas cylinder storage in the area.
Officials from the Civil Supplies Department, Legal Metrology and the police participated in the operation.
The seized stock included 18 sealed domestic cylinders, two unsealed domestic cylinders, 12 empty domestic cylinders, 24 sealed commercial cylinders, 32 unsealed commercial cylinders, 10 empty commercial cylinders, and 66 empty 5-kg cylinders. In all, 42 sealed cylinders were confiscated. Authorities also detected 32 counterfeit commercial cylinders and one counterfeit domestic cylinder, along with three tempos used for transportation.
The unit was operating in a farm-like area between Saligao and Parra. The arrested accused include Radhesham, Vikas Swarupanand, Ramesh Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Ram Swaroop.
Officials said the scam was facilitated by a transporter who diverted cylinder stocks mid-route between godowns, allowing gas to be siphoned from one cylinder into another, effectively doubling supply.
Naik said such illegality was widespread in Goa. “Earlier, a cylinder would last a month, but now it doesn’t even last 15 days. Consumers should be cautious and check the weight of the cylinder before purchasing,” he urged. He added this was the third such raid, following earlier crackdowns in Margao and Sancoale. “Authorities are committed to preventing the circulation of tampered cylinders and to taking strict action against those responsible,” Naik said.
