Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: A joint team of the Civil Supplies Department, Legal Metrology officials, and police on Monday evening seized 164 LPG cylinders during a raid on an illegal storage unit in Saligao village. Five persons, all natives of Rajasthan, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The raid was carried out at 7:35 p.m. on August 18 after reports of unauthorised storage of LPG cylinders in the vicinity of Saligao. Officials said the seizure included 18 sealed domestic cylinders, 2 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 additional empty units.
The Civil Supplies team was led by Assistant Director Deepa Fulari, Inspector Rajiv Sawant, and Sub-Inspectors Sarvesh Tuekar, Vasudev Shirodkar, Vishwanath Haldonkar, and Rohit Talarnkar, while Legal Metrology was represented by Inspector Sidhesh V. Shirgaonker and MTS Maghadev E. Dhargalkar.
Civil Supplies Minister Ravi Naik, addressing the media after the raid, said a group of individuals had been caught transferring gas from one cylinder to another between Saligao and Parra, effectively creating two cylinders from one. “People are being deceived, and such illegal activity is happening across Goa,” he said.
Naik warned consumers to exercise caution. “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 that this was the third such raid, following earlier operations in Margao and Sancoale, and assured the public that strict action would be taken. “Authorities are committed to preventing the circulation of tampered cylinders and to taking strict action against those responsible,” he said.
Further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain behind the illegal storage and diversion.
Main Points
* 164 LPG cylinders seized in Saligao raid on Aug 18, 7:35 p.m.
* 42 sealed cylinders among the confiscated stock.
* 32 counterfeit commercial and 1 counterfeit domestic cylinder were detected.
* Five persons arrested, all natives of Rajasthan.
* Raid team included officials of Civil Supplies, Legal Metrology, and the police.
* Third such raid, after Margao and Sancoale.
🗣️ Ravi Naik’s Key Quotes
* “People are being deceived, and such illegal activity is happening across 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.”
* “Authorities are committed to preventing the circulation of tampered cylinders and to taking strict action against those responsible.”
