LPG supplies normal — but seizures

Delhi says cooking gas and fuel supplies are normal, even as a monthlong crackdown seized 2,027 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders and led to 44 police cases. (hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on April 15 that Delhi is delivering about 1.25 lakh liquefied petroleum gas cylinders a day, which she described as normal demand, with average delivery times still running four to five days. She also said gas agencies and bottling plants have adequate stock. (hindustantimes.com, thehindu.com) The enforcement numbers are large: more than 540 raids across Delhi in the past month, carried out by the food supplies department and police, according to officials cited by The Times of India. The same report said the raids targeted irregular distribution, black marketing and illegal storage. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com, thehindu.com) The two messages come after weeks of anxiety over cooking gas availability in Delhi and other Indian cities. In March, reports from schools, restaurants and housing societies described delayed refills and fears of shortages as the central government urged households not to panic book cylinders. (indiatoday.in, economictimes.indiatimes.com) Delhi tightened the retail system on April 6 by banning direct sale of cylinders from distributor godowns and telling residents to use booking-and-delivery channels instead. The government also expanded access to 5-kilogram cylinders for migrant workers and other residents who may not have standard address documents. (hindustantimes.com, newsonair.gov.in) Officials say the system is also being pushed toward doorstep verification. Delhi has introduced one-time-password authentication for deliveries, and recent reports said more than 90 percent of daily deliveries are now being verified that way. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com, millenniumpost.in) The wider backdrop is a national effort to keep household cooking gas insulated from supply shocks and resale rackets. The Petroleum Ministry said in March that refill booking timelines had not been changed despite rumors, while also urging consumers not to make panic purchases. (scconline.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com) For Delhi residents, the immediate picture is a split one: official supply data shows routine deliveries, while police and civil supplies teams keep pulling cylinders out of illegal channels. The government’s latest appeal is simple — book through official systems and ignore shortage rumors. (hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com)