Chandigarh

LPG distributors in Punjab on Tuesday claimed that cooking gas supply in the state remains “inadequate” despite assurances from the Union government and oil marketing companies, and urged authorities to increase supplies to clear pending orders.

Addressing the media, Federation of LPG Distributors of Punjab president Gurpal Singh Mann said recent developments, including a price hike of Rs 60 for domestic cylinders and Rs 115 for commercial ones, triggered panic among consumers over a possible shortage.

He said subsequent measures, instead of easing concerns, added to confusion. These included restrictions on booking intervals — once every 25 days for urban consumers and once every 45 days for rural users — which he termed discriminatory.

Mann questioned the rationale behind such curbs if there was no supply shortage, as claimed by authorities.

He further alleged that the temporary suspension of LPG booking channels for three to four days worsened the situation, leaving distributors to deal with mounting pressure from consumers without clear guidance.

According to the association, pending bookings have surged while supply from bottling plants remains insufficient to meet existing demand. Distributors said there is a growing mismatch between official claims of adequate availability and the ground reality, which is affecting public trust.

Mann added that a lack of timely communication regarding supply schedules and policy decisions has made it difficult for distributors to respond effectively to customer concerns.

He warned that a combination of price hikes, booking restrictions and supply disruptions has created panic among consumers, drawing comparisons to the uncertainty witnessed during the COVID-19 period.

READ MORE: JK bureaucrat Anissa Nabi promotes fitness among women, youth

Punjab has around 980 LPG distributors serving nearly 96 lakh consumers across the state, he said.