Delhi govt steps up measures to manage LPG supply pressure
New Delhi: Facing rising demand and supply pressure in the LPG sector, the Delhi government on Friday announced a multi-level strategy, including coordination with the Centre, to stabilise supply and curb misuse. The move comes amid a surge in bookings and reports of localised shortages in parts of the Capital.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, where officials outlined a combination of policy intervention, enforcement action, and consumer awareness measures to address the situation.
Additional Commissioner Arun Kumar Jha said Delhi currently has nearly 56 lakh domestic LPG connections and urged residents to ensure their connections are registered in the correct name to prevent diversion and misuse. He also emphasised the need to reduce dependency on LPG by promoting piped natural gas. “Wherever PNG connections are available, residents should shift from LPG to PNG,” he said, adding that the pipeline network has now expanded to cover every village.
To monitor the situation closely, the government has set up a dedicated control room to receive complaints and track supply issues. Citizens have been encouraged to report suspicious activities through helpline numbers, with assurances that verified complaints will be acted upon swiftly while maintaining confidentiality of informants.
On the enforcement front, authorities have intensified action against hoarding and illegal diversion. In a recent crackdown, around 100 LPG cylinders were seized from Alipur and Bawana. Officials said operations are being carried out at multiple levels, including intelligence gathering. “The intelligence department is also actively working on this,” an official noted. So far, 27 cases have been registered in connection with illegal activities, though no distributor or gas agency has been formally charged yet, according to Joint CP (Transport) Milind Mahadeo Dumbere. Officials highlighted that LPG demand has spiked significantly, with daily bookings touching nearly 2 lakh, compared to the usual average of 1.60 lakh. The sudden rise has led to queues in some areas due to backlog. As a temporary relief, migrant workers can access 5 kg cylinders without a regular connection by providing valid identification.
The government is also accelerating PNG adoption, increasing installation targets from 1,000 to 3,000 connections, as part of efforts to ease pressure on LPG supply and ensure long-term stability.
