LPG Theft: Resident Calls for Stricter Regulations and to Stay Vigilant
LPG Theft: Resident Calls for Stricter Regulations and to Stay Vigilant
Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Mukund Kirdat urges citizens to weigh their cylinders upon delivery to combat fraud.
Concerns over LPG theft have intensified following a viral Facebook Live video by a Pune resident exposing underweight gas cylinders. This revelation has amplified calls for stricter regulations and heightened vigilance among consumers. Mukund Kirdat, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson, has urged citizens to weigh their cylinders upon delivery to prevent such fraud.
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Kirdat highlighted the issue of underweight cylinders, warning that thieves employ various methods to cheat consumers, including stealing LPG from cylinders, refilling them with water, and distributing underweight cylinders that should be rejected.
The incident gained attention when Advocate Dattatraya Bhange, an LPG consumer and resident of Karve Road, Kothrud, used social media to spotlight the issue. During a recent visit to his gas distributor, Bhange requested his cylinder be weighed. Initially, the staff claimed there was no weighing scale available. However, after Bhange began a live broadcast on Facebook, a scale was produced. It revealed that the cylinder was nearly one kilogram underweight. The video has since gone viral, receiving more than one hundred thousand views.
Bhange expressed concern that this issue persists because most customers do not insist on weighing their cylinders. He called for strict action from authorities to prevent such exploitation. To ensure transparency and fairness, Bhange emphasized that gas distributors should always carry a certified weighing scale in their delivery vehicles and show the cylinder’s weight to the customer. Additionally, delivery workers should be in uniform. Adhering to these measures would guarantee a reliable supply for customers.
Kirdat urged the police and the Legal Metrology Department to investigate and address any instances of gas theft. He added, “The issue is that consumers are not aware and do not weigh the gas cylinders when they are delivered. Theft of 1 kg or half kg of LPG gas is often not recognizable to citizens, resulting in a loss of around ₹100. Citizens should be aware and always request to weigh the gas.”
This incident underscores the need for stricter regulations and vigilant consumer practices to combat LPG theft and ensure fair practices in the distribution of essential goods.
