BHUBANESWAR: LPG cylinders will no longer be available in the open market in Odisha and only customers who have completed their e-KYC can procure them from authorised dealers, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced on Sunday, amid complaints of black-marketing due to alleged shortage of cooking gas, reports Diana Sahu."The department has been proactive in its efforts to curb the unauthorised sale of LPG cylinders in the open market at exorbitant rates. There is no disruption in the supply of domestic cylinders, and as per the new guidelines, they are being supplied to urban consumers within 25 days and to rural consumers within 45 days of booking," Patra said. Sale of 5 kg cylinders in the open market has been banned to curb black marketing of cooking gas in the state.

In another development, 27 LPG cylinders were seized in Dhenkanal town on Sunday for black marketing.