Shillong, Sep 17: The South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner (Supply) has issued an official order directing all business establishments, including hotels, restaurants, tea stalls, canteens and street vendors, across the district to stop use of domestic LPG cylinders and switch to commercial cylinders.
Commercial use of domestic LPG cylinders is a violation of the LPG (Regulations of Supply & Distribution) Order 2000. Domestic cylinders are subsidised, while commercial ones are not, which offers a temptation to unscrupulous businesses to use ones for home use in their eateries.
Domestic cylinders are taxed at 5 per cent and commercial ones at 18 per cent and therefore the use of domestic cylinders in business establishments causes substantial revenue loss to the government.
The order additionally cited safety reasons, as domestic cylinders are not designed for commercial usage and pose risks due to incompatible pressure regulators.
