K'taka govt cautions LPG dealers not to indulge in 'blackmailing', blackmarketing
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Wednesday cautioned LPG refill dealers not to resort to "blackmailing or blackmarketing," amid the LPG crisis.
He also clarified that the gas dealers cannot deny one cylinder a month to their consumers, amid concerns over supply disruptions in parts of the state.
"At this juncture, I am telling all distributors through you (media) that no one should attempt to blackmail or engage in black marketing. Such things will not be allowed. We will take action; we will not let it go so easily," he told reporters at the airport.
ALSO READ: BJP insulting Sanatan traditions: Akhilesh on 'restrictions' for Avimukteshwaranand's Lucknow event
Muniyappa urged distributors to cooperate with the government during the current situation and refrain from any practices that could create panic among consumers.
"In this difficult time, rather than immediately taking action, I am making an appeal: do not indulge in such activities and cooperate during this period of hardship," he said.
Muniyappa also said that oil marketing companies have assured that there is no directive to restrict domestic LPG supplies or halt distribution.
"Distributors cannot deny one cylinder a month to the consumers. That is the assurance given by the oil companies. Therefore, they will neither insist on such a restriction, nor they have said that supply will be stopped completely," the minister said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Heatwave scorches Odisha, Jharsuguda reels under 43.6 degrees C
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Heatwave conditions scorched Odisha on Tuesday, with the IMD forecasting that hot and humid conditions would continue in parts of the state.
The IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre said Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts were likely to experience hot and humid conditions on April 22.
It also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds in parts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput, among others.
On Tuesday, 18 places across Odisha recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above. The industrial town of Jharsuguda was the hottest in the state at 43.6 degrees Celsius.
Sambalpur and Titlagarh recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius each, followed by Hirakud at 42.4 degrees, Bolangir at 42.2 degrees and Angul at 42.1 degrees.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 37.9 degrees Celsius and 38.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, with relative humidity levels remaining above 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, the state government directed all district education officers to conduct a Summer Learning Programme for students till class 8 in government schools during the summer vacation.
Officials said students would be given practice assignments along with audio-visual learning content.
Subject-wise assignment sheets have been prepared, while related digital material will be shared through school parents' WhatsApp groups using a chatbot system, they said.
