Issues warning against black marketing, hoarding, overcharging
JAMMU, MARCH 19: In a decisive move to safeguard consumer interests and ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), IT, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Satish Sharma Thursday led an extensive and high-intensity market checking drive across multiple locations from Katra to Jammu, focusing particularly on the distribution and availability of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Demonstrating proactive governance and on-ground monitoring, the Minister, as per an official statement, conducted surprise inspections at several LPG godowns, distribution outlets, and retail points. He thoroughly reviewed stock positions, distribution records, booking and delivery systems, and compliance with prescribed norms. He also interacted with consumers, delivery personnel, and distributors to get first-hand feedback regarding availability, pricing, and service delivery.
During the inspections, Satish Sharma issued a stern warning against black marketing, hoarding, overcharging, and any attempts to create artificial scarcity of LPG. He made it unequivocally clear that the government will adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards such malpractices.
“There will be no atonement for those found indulging in black marketing or exploiting consumers. Anyone violating the law, be it an LPG distributor, delivery agent or any intermediary, will face strict legal action without exception,” the Minister asserted.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and consumer protection, the Minister emphasized that ensuring the availability of LPG at regulated prices remains a top priority. He assured the public that there is adequate stock of LPG and that the government is closely monitoring the supply chain to prevent any disruption.
Satish Sharma further directed the concerned officers of the FCS&CA department to intensify market checking drives across all districts, maintain strict vigilance, and take immediate punitive action against violators. He stressed the need for a robust monitoring mechanism, including regular inspections and real-time reporting, to curb any malpractice effectively. He instructed them to ensure continuous enforcement of regulations and strengthen coordination with law enforcement agencies to maintain discipline in the markets.
The Minister also called upon the general public to remain vigilant and report any instances of overcharging, hoarding, or denial of service. He assured that prompt action will be taken on all genuine complaints and strict penalties will be imposed on offenders.
Senior officers of the FCS&CA department and district administration accompanied the Minister during the drive.
