Though waitlist crosses 10K, no fresh LPG connections

CHENNAI: The LPG distributors have temporarily halted fresh connections, though the waiting list for new connection has crossed the 10,000-mark. Distributors say they had to stop new connections because of poor supply from oil companies, and add that it is likely to fuel black marketing of cooking gas in the city.
All India Indane Distributors’ Association general secretary C G Krishnamoorthy, said, “We had been providing fresh LPG connections till August this year.Right now, we are facing a shortage of LPG cylinders from oil companies.” Noting that the backlog for refills was 10 days, he said, “it is difficult to provide fresh LPG connections now”.
Nearly 60% of the city’s LPG consumers are serviced by the IOC’s Indane. Sources said most LPG dealers in the city were now providing cylinders only for existing consumers. In a bid to reduce the backlog of cylinders, the distributors have also decided to work on Sundays. “Most of the dealers are now functioning on Sundays to reduce the shortage,” said Krishnamoorthy.
Oil company sources said that all applications for fresh connections will be scrutinized by the three oil companies to prevent multiple connections. Following the government’s decision to restrict the supply of subsidized LPG cylinders to six per household per year, oil companies say they are engaged in a plugging loopholes for existing connections and putting in place a fool-proof system for new consumers.
An Indane official said: “New connections will be provided on completion of KYC (Know Your Customer) formalities to curb multiple connections. The waiting period for new connections will come down once that exercise is completed.” Authorities have also said that they had not stopped issuing of new LPG connections. “There, however, will be a three-week hiatus in issuing new connections because of the ongoing drive to eliminate the multiple connections,” they added.
Distributors said the poor supply from the oil companies has created a backlog. “There are frequent shutdowns at the Ennore bottling plant of the IOC and it has had a severe impact on the supply. A one-day strike in the plant will create a backlog of refills for three days,” said an Indane distributor.
This is also likely to affect the consumers who are using the reticulated pipe LPG connections. Oil companies have said that the reticulated LPG supplied to several kitchens from a single bank of cylinders is considered as one account.