The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government on Sunday announced a strict ban on direct sale of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders from storage failures, warning that violators would face strict action, PTI reported.
In an official statement, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the supply of LPG in the capital is being closely monitored to prevent shortage of cylinders and ensure compliance with the prescribed norms.
OMCs asked not to supply LPG cylinders directly: CM Gupta
In a statement, the Delhi CM said, “Residents have been advised not to visit gas agencies or depots or gather in crowds as the reserved cylinders are being delivered to households at scheduled times.” The statement added that oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been directed not to sell LPG cylinders directly from storage sites, saying such sales are illegal.
The report said the government said it had improved the availability of five-kilogram LPG cylinders to boost supply, especially for migrant workers. “These cylinders can now be purchased from gas agencies on presentation of a valid identity card without the need for address verification. Eleven help desks have also been set up at selected HPCL outlets to guide consumers to nearby distributors,” the statement added.
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A total of 1,14,679 LPG bookings were registered on Saturday while 1,31,335 cylinders were delivered, PTI reported citing a statement saying that the average delivery time for domestic LPG is currently reported at 4.24 days.
Dedicated Hoarding Control Room: Delhi Govt
Gupta also added that a dedicated dispatch room with several helplines including 011-23379836 and 8383824659 has been set up to curb hoarding and black marketing.
The Delhi Police has so far conducted raids at 17 locations, while the Food and Supplies Department has inspected 76 gas agencies and storage facilities.
LPG supply in Delhi under control
Reassuring residents, the Chief Minister said that LPG supply in Delhi remains stable and under control and urged people to remain calm, avoid rumors and depend on the official supply system.
This comes as various parts of the country report concerns about rising fuel supplies due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, five weeks after the US and Israel went to war against Iran. In retaliation, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for transporting nearly a fifth of the world’s oil.
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According to a report in India Today, the gap between official claims and the ground reality is becoming increasingly apparent in the capital. It suggests that while officials continue to say there is no shortage of LPG, investigations have revealed a thriving black market where LPG cylinders are sold at exorbitant prices and often in plain sight.
Amid the flourishing black market scenario in Delhi, Mint spoke to two people who said on the condition of anonymity that the LPG cylinder sold at ₹1,100 before the start of the conflict sold for ₹1700 in the month of March. The source added that when she was collecting the top hat, the seller received another phone call and quoted the price of the bottle as ₹2000. When asked, the delivery man said, “This is the time to make money. If not now, then when.”
