Ludhiana Administration Establishes Panels to Address LPG Supply Issues and Black Marketing
The district administration in Ludhiana has announced the formation of committees aimed at streamlining the supply of LPG cylinders to consumers, while also taking measures to check black marketing activities. This move comes in response to widespread complaints from residents and industries regarding significant delays in receiving cylinders after booking.
Consumer Concerns Over Delayed Deliveries
Many consumers in Ludhiana have reported experiencing delays of up to 25 days for booking a cylinder, followed by an additional six days for delivery. This extended waiting period has become a major concern, particularly for large families who rely heavily on LPG for daily cooking needs.
Dhiraj, a resident of the Civil Lines area, highlighted the challenges faced by his family of seven members. "We typically need a new cylinder every 20 days, but due to the current shortage, it's taking nearly a month to get one. We've had to purchase an induction plate as a temporary solution, but cooking on a single cooktop is not practical for our household," he explained.
Government Directives and Committee Formation
Following directives from the state government, the district administration formed these committees on Wednesday evening to specifically address the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. The administration has adopted a strict approach to ensure proper supply and prevent black marketing, issuing detailed guidelines to enforce these measures.
As per recent directions, six commercial cylinders of five kg will be allocated for any marriage event, with consumers required to book them four days in advance. These cylinders will only be released after complete verification processes are completed. The state government has prioritized weddings of girls in these allocations.
Monitoring and Supply Management
Committees headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) have been established to monitor the supply of commercial cylinders. The DC stated that daily supply and distribution review meetings will be held at 10 am, where feedback from all companies will be taken. Firms including IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL are mandated to release their LPG quota daily, with provisions for carry-forward if supply is missed on any given day.
Priority is being given to the supply of 5 kg cylinders, and it is mandatory for sufficient stock to be available in advance. The state government has categorized hospitals and educational institutions, including hostels, as essential services for commercial LPG cylinder supply.
Industrial Impact and Advocacy
A delegation from the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organizations (FICO), led by President Gurmeet Singh Kular along with Jatinder Mittal, Chairman of UCPMA, and others, met with the DC to submit a memorandum regarding the LPG supply shortage affecting industries and industrial canteens.
The memorandum pointed out that due to the recent Israel–Iran war and its impact on oil and gas supply, the government has restricted LPG use primarily to domestic, hospital, and defense sectors. FICO emphasized that industries operate on a "just-in-time" system and do not maintain extra stock like households, leading to serious problems for many industries in Ludhiana.
Units relying on LPG have either stopped or slowed down production over the past five days, while industrial canteens are unable to cook food for workers due to LPG non-availability.
Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) Intervention
The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has raised alarms about the worsening crisis in industrial LPG supply. They have written to senior government authorities, including the CMO Office and Union Minister of Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri, seeking immediate intervention.
In their communication, CICU highlighted that despite earlier representations, the situation has deteriorated further due to continuous disruptions in industrial gas supply. The crisis has reached a critical level, pushing MSME industries towards potential shutdowns.
Many units are already operating at minimal capacity due to LPG unavailability, with a large number on the verge of closure. CICU has demanded that ample gas supply be allocated specifically for industrial use to prevent economic fallout.
