Cooking gas delays persist despite claims of adequate supply
Cooking gas distribution continues to face disruptions across the State, with consumers reporting long delays in delivery despite official claims that there is no shortage in supply.
According to officials, more than 15 lakh LPG cylinder deliveries are currently pending. While authorities estimate that the backlog could be cleared in about a week, consumers say they are waiting between two and three weeks to receive cylinders after booking.
“There is no shortage of LPG. The issue is largely on the distribution side,” a senior official said. “We are working to streamline deliveries and reduce the backlog.”
The State has around 1.3 crore domestic LPG connections, with an average of 2.15 lakh bookings recorded daily under normal circumstances. Oil marketing companies together supply roughly the same number of cylinders each day, with Indian Oil Corporation accounting for about 93,000, Hindustan Petroleum for 75,000, and Bharat Petroleum for 47,000.
However, the system has come under strain in recent weeks. Before the onset of the ongoing crisis, the State typically had around 3.5 lakh pending bookings on any given day, most of which were cleared within 24 hours. The pending number has now risen sharply to over 15 lakh.
Consumers point to delays in doorstep delivery as a key concern. “Even after booking, we are not sure when the cylinder will arrive. We are forced to visit agencies repeatedly,” said a resident.
Officials attribute the surge in pending bookings to panic demand during the initial phase of the crisis. “In the first 7 to 10 days, bookings increased significantly due to uncertainty. That put pressure on the system,” an official explained.
To manage demand, the Centre introduced a “system lock” mechanism, restricting the interval between refill bookings. Under this system, consumers in rural areas must wait 45 days between bookings, while in urban areas the gap is 25 days for single-cylinder users and 35 days for those with double-cylinder connections.
“The lock-in system was brought in to prevent excessive bookings and ensure equitable distribution,” the official said. “However, we acknowledge that it has also increased waiting time for some consumers.”
The situation has been compounded by technical issues in the booking system of the Indian Oil Corporation. “We are facing intermittent software glitches, which are affecting booking and delivery schedules,” another official admitted.
Consumers, meanwhile, are urging authorities to address both logistical and technical challenges at the earliest. “If deliveries are sped up, the pending numbers will come down,” a consumer said. “Right now, the uncertainty is the biggest problem.”