From standing in queues to following trucks, citizens do it all for LPG refill

Panaji/Calangute/Vasco: Sarika Naik, a housewife from Vasco, didn’t think twice about standing in queue for an LPG cylinder on Thursday. “What if govt is unable to make an LPG cylinder available when I need it next? I’m trying to secure an extra cylinder,” she said, adding that she would be left with no option but to cook on fire if LPG supply is completely stopped.

Despite govt’s assurance that there is no shortage in supply of domestic LPG, dealers across the state were left flustered as people formed serpentine queues outside gas agency offices, seemingly unwilling to believe govt.





Like Sarika, several consumers also made it a point to secure a refill without waiting for the gas agency to deliver it to their doorstep.

Minakshi Naik, an advocate from Vasco, said that though she is confident govt will ensure domestic LPG supply is not interrupted, people are scared.

The North Goa’s coastal belt of Calangute-Candolim too, reported intense panic buying of cooking gas.

“We are supplying 300 cylinders everyday for the last two days because people are thinking there will be no cylinders available. The supply is there,” a manager of a gas cylinder distributor at Calangute said. He said people book even though their cylinders are not empty. “We replace for those who come with empty cylinders,” he added.

Dealerships told TOI that those complaining about being unable to book a gas cylinder should understand that as per govt norms, there is a one-month waiting period after the previous booking.

“There are people forming lines outside our shop even before we can open. There is no need to panic,” said a woman who operates an Indane gas dealership. “People who took a cylinder just a few days ago want to take another one. But when we tell them that they can get the second cylinder only after 20-25 days of the previous one, they think that the stock is over and that is why we are not giving,” she said.

Mohan, a gas delivery person with HP Gas, said a cylinder can be booked via a phone call, but people are coming to their shop or following their trucks. “It is difficult to handle people because they are simply getting agitated. They sit in our shops for hours and refuse to leave. Some book the cylinder and want it instantly,” he said.

“We have routines and routes to follow, and must deliver cylinders to those who ordered earlier,” he said.

A representative of HP Gas at Caranzalem, said they used to deliver around 200 cylinders a day, but because of the panic, booking has gone up to 5,000 cylinders a day. “How can we deliver 5,000 cylinders in a day?” he said.

A dealer in Calangute said some small-time hotel operators are trying to secure domestic LPG fearing loss of business if they are unable to secure commercial LPG supply. “We have been hearing stories of hotels shutting in other parts of the country, so you can’t blame them,” he said.