Chennai:
A total of 11,140 persons have been booked under various cases for misusing their LPG supply and gas cylinders worth Rs 1.43 crore have been confiscated from them across Tamil Nadu, the state Assembly was informed today.
Replying to a special call attention motion brought by DMDK members R M Babu Murugavel and K Thinakaran on increasing instances of gas cylinder explosions in the state, Food Minister Kamaraj said that preventive cases have been booked against 27 persons for repeating the crime.
Contending that gas explosions in the recent past across the state has been occurring only because of poor awareness among the people on handling LPG cylinders and stoves, he said that awareness campaigns are being conducted.
Not closing the gas valve during nights, non-checking of cylinders for any leak, using electricity not knowing the leakage, using domestic cylinders for commercial purpose and equipment not certified by proper authority are the main reasons behind these incidents, the Minister said.
Earlier, Mr Murugavel and Mr Thinakaran brought to government's notice, the increasing instances of gas cylinder explosions in Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem and Chennai.