Citizens grapple with LPG shortage

LUCKNOW: The city is facing shortage of domestic LPG cylinders. The crisis is due to delayed supply of cylinders. There is shortage in the godowns too. Consumers are complaining that the gas is being delivered 15-20 days after booking. "I booked a cylinder on March 19 but the delivery is still awaited," said Reema Singh, a housewife. Another housewife, Sabista Rizwi, had to get the cylinder from her in-laws who live 14km away.
As per rules, a consumer can apply for a new cylinder 21 days after the date of the previous booking. The booked cylinder should be delivered within a week. President, UP LPG Federation, DP Singh said the crisis is due to altered supply to a oil company.
"Now that the problem has been sorted, we hope to resume normal services in 7-10 days," he said. "The plants are, in fact, working over time to clear the backlog," he added. Another office bearer of federation, Om Somani, said at present all major oil companies are finding it difficult to meet the demand.
Some consumers said they have been forced to depend on black marketers. "You pay extra money and get the cylinder is what a vendor told me. Since I needed it quite desperately, I didn't mind going the wrong way," said Shamim Ahmed, a resident of Hazratganj. He believes that the crisis has been created. "If the crisis was so acute, where do these black-marketers get the cylinder from," he questioned.
There is also worry that the crisis may deepen since the wedding season is approaching. "The demand for cylinders doubles during the wedding season," said AK Singh, a distributor in Old City. The LPG association, however, denied this. "Most of the caterers use commercial cylinders whose supply has not been affected. So, people need not worry," said DP Singh.
District magistrate Anurag Yadav admitted being aware of the crisis. On Monday, he held a meeting with the oil companies which said the crisis will be over after a week. Yadav added that to check black marketing, additional district magistrate for food and civil supplies has been directed to constitute vigilance teams.