New LPG connections still stalled months after West Asia tensions ease

Despite the normalisation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies to both domestic and commercial customers, distributors say oil marketing companies (OMCs) have yet to issue new domestic connections. Consumers who have been waiting since March, when the conflict in West Asia began, express frustration.

Uthanraj, who works at a provision store in Chennai, got married in February and brought his wife Radha to the city in March. They have been using an induction stove provided by their landlord. “It is slow and not all utensils can be used with an induction stove. Rarely, we use the houseowner’s gas stove. The gas agency suggested that we buy a small cylinder, but that is too costly for us,” he said.

Another newly-wed couple, married in May, submitted their application for a new LPG connection but have grown tired of repeatedly asking when it will be delivered. “My wife is not used to cooking with an induction stove. It runs on electricity, and she gets jittery about it. I have to be with her, but I have to go out for work. Hence, we are managing with 5-kg cylinders and ordering food. It would be great if the government considered our requests for new connections soon,” the husband said.

A consumer in south Chennai said that for the past few years, she had relied on cylinders supplied by gas delivery boys. When she tried to get a formal connection, she was told to get a 5-kg connection. “Not all agencies provide such connections. It took some push to get it done. I hope when the situation normalises, I will be able to convert it to a domestic double-bottle connection,” she said.

Distributors report that their agencies see walk-in customers seeking new connections almost daily. “We are unable to provide new connections. We have only been noting their names and phone numbers with the promise of issuing cylinders as soon as possible,” said one distributor.

Another distributor said OMC officials have been pressuring them to sell stoves and hoses despite no new connections being issued. “If new connections are issued, we can sell gas stoves. But now, consumers cannot simply be told to buy stoves for no reason. With the orange hose, it is another story. Some distributors are saddled with thousands of hoses. It will take at least two years to sell 4,000 hoses. So, we would be giving consumers hoses that have a short life,” he added.