LPG cylinder illegal sale: Odisha man arrested for selling gas cylinders at higher prices

An individual was taken into custody by the police on Wednesday on allegations of unlawfully selling gas cylinders at elevated prices in Sundargarh district.

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According to sources, local police along with officials from the Civil Supplies department conducted a surprise raid on a retail outlet named ‘Patra General Store’ located on Vijaya Talkies Road in Dengibhadi, after receiving complaints of black marketing.

During the search operation, at least 55 gas cylinders were seized, and the shop owner, identified as Badri Patra, was arrested in this connection.

This action forms part of a concerted effort by Sundargarh Police and the Department aimed at curbing the illegal trading practices in the region, underscoring ongoing endeavours to prevent unauthorised trade activities.

Worth mentioning, the government had previously implemented three key measures such as mandatory OTP verification for home deliveries to prevent phantom bookings, special enforcement powers under the LPG Regulation Act, 1988, allowing seizures by food department inspectors, and colour-coded cylinders (red for domestic, blue for commercial) for easy identification.

Supreme Court reinforced legal protocols in 2023, ruling that only designated inspectors (not local police) can conduct seizures.

Impact on cooking gas consumers

Black marketing creates dual burdens. Households face extended waiting periods (45+ days vs standard 21-day cycle). Commercial users pay 220-240% premiums over subsidized rates. A 2025 survey showed 68% of street vendors in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar rely on black market cylinders, spending 18-22% of earnings on fuel. This perpetuates energy poverty despite PMUY scheme expansions.

Prevalence of black marketing in Odisha

Odisha has faced persistent issues with LPG cylinder diversion, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. A 2017 raid in Angul district seized 73 illegally stored domestic cylinders from a single residence, demonstrating the scale of operations.

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The practice continues due to price differentials – subsidised domestic cylinders (Rs 829 in Bhubaneswar) remain significantly cheaper than commercial rates (Rs 1,952.50 for 19kg cylinders). This creates an estimated Rs 1,100-1,500 profit margin per diverted cylinder.

Reported By: Debabrata