KOCHI: The Legal Metrology Department has registered a case against the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) after finding low weight domestic gas cylinders from the filling plant in Kakkanad on Tuesday. The gas cylinders with shortage of around 20-100 gram were seized from the plant. LPG cylinders filled with gas normally weighs 29.2 kg which includes 14.2 kg of cooking gas and cylinder weight of 16 kg.
“ Most of the gas cylinders tested at the plant varied in quantity. If the measurement in some cylinders was 14 kg, it was 13.6 or less in other cylinders. An average of 30 gram shortage in quantity was detected,” said Ram Mohan, Assistant Controller, Legal Metrology Department, Ernakulam.
As many as 12,000 LPG cylinders are filled on a daily basis at the plant. The drive was started as per the direction from the Legal Metrology Controller Mohammed Iqbal on the basis of customers’ complaints on low weight LPG cylinders.
The department conducted the drive using the digital working standard instruments. “As per the Packaged Commodities Act, 2011, the agency should deliver the mentioned cooking gas and if any difference is found, it is an offence. Based on the complaints we are also planning to conduct inspection in other plants as well. If people have any doubts over the delivered cylinder they can inform to the department,” Ram Mohan said.
Along with Ram Mohan, Assistant controller Jeeson, Senior Inspector S V Manoj Kumar, inspectors V R Manoj and K S Abhilash also took part in the inspection. The HPCL officials were unavailable for comments.