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14/07/2013
Bihar bans use of small LPG cylinders following blasts
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Patna,(BiharTimes): The Bihar government on Saturday banned the sale and use of five kilo and 2.5 kilo gas cylinders following evidence of their use in the serial blasts at Bodh Gaya on July 7. Small LPG cylinders, filled with ammonium nitrate, sulphur and shrapnel were used to cause maximum damage to religious sites in Bodh Gaya. Talking to the media on Saturday state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shyam Rajak said the state government had directed companies engaged in LPG gas business to stop with immediate effect the sale and supply of small cylinders. The district authorities have been asked to implement the ban strictly. He said if any small gas cylinder is found in any shop, the gas agency of the locality will be held jointly responsible and prosecuted along with the consumer. He also said the concerned station house officer of the area would also be held accountable in such cases. Sale of small cylinders is quite rampant throughout the state. In fact they can be found in all nooks and corners of Patna. Neither the dealers nor the consumers follow any norms and rules though they contain inflammable gas. After the blasts on Sunday Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had expressed surprise as to how cylinders managed to reach inside the Mahabodhi Temple in spite of the presence of security personnel. According to oil companies about 3,000 cylinders of five kg were supplied to the listed consumers and some of them were still refilling them. The Food Minister directed companies to ask these consumers to surrender the five kg cylinders. |
