Extended LPG booking gap sparks worry among people

Patna: Residents are worried after the Centre increased the minimum waiting period for booking domestic LPG cylinders from 21 to 25 days to prevent hoarding amid West Asia crisis.In Patna, distributors said the delivery rate has fallen by nearly 50% due to a growing backlog of consumers. The price of a 14kg LPG cylinder in Patna is currently Rs1,011. Official data from Feb shows that Bihar has over 2.34 crore active domestic LPG consumers. To ensure genuine deliveries, all customers are required to provide an OTP at the time of receiving the cylinder.A member of the LPG distributors’ association in Bihar said, “There is currently no shortage in the state, and people need not worry.

Certain rules have been put in place to prevent panic buying and hoarding.”Distributors said they are receiving cylinders in staggered supplies. A distributor in Patna said, “Earlier, by the 10th of the month, I would receive at least 2,500 cylinders. But as of March 10, I have received only 1,400, leaving a shortfall of about 1,000 cylinders.”A distributor from Kankarbagh said, “According to the govt mandate, booking of commercial cylinders has been stopped completely.

They are being supplied only to hospitals and educational institutions.” Sources said NIT-Patna might declare summer vacation early if the situation continues.Consumers are allowed to book up to 15 cylinders in a financial year. The Kankarbagh distributor added that several families with large households have already exhausted this quota and cannot book another cylinder until April 1, leading to anxiety among consumers.The govt has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to manage supply. Oil marketing behemoth IOCL posted on X, “In light of current geopolitical disruptions affecting global fuel supply, steps have been taken to enhance LPG production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers and essential non-domestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. Requests from other non-domestic sectors will be reviewed by a committee of executive directors from oil marketing companies and prioritised based on merit, necessity, and product availability.

”Queues were reported at gas agencies in places such as Supaul, Kaimur and Bhojpur. Many consumers were unaware of the 25-day booking gap and the need to update e-KYC details in Bhojpur. At several agencies, people were seen making frantic inquiries about why they could not place bookings as they had earlier.A consumer in Piro said, “Earlier, I could place my booking with just a phone call. Now my gas agency manager says the refill can be booked only after a 25-day gap from the previous delivery. I was also asked to update my e-KYC details.” (With inputs from Praveen in Ara)