Karnataka LPG Distributors Announce Revised Booking Intervals, Ministry Denies Changes
In a development that has sparked confusion among consumers, distributors in Karnataka released a list of revised intervals for LPG refill bookings on Wednesday, even as the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas firmly denied any changes to the existing timelines.
Ministry Clarification Versus Distributor Announcements
The ministry issued a clear statement maintaining that the current refill booking intervals remain unchanged at 25 days for urban areas and 45 days for rural areas, regardless of the type of connection. "Citizens are advised not to circulate misinformation and to avoid unnecessary or panic booking of LPG refills," the ministry emphasized in its communication on social media platform X.
However, members of the Karnataka circle of the All-India LPG Distributors Federation had earlier outlined modifications to the refill booking intervals—the number of days after a booking when the next refill can be scheduled—for various types of connections. This announcement led to a flurry of customer responses on social media, with many sharing screenshots reflecting the revised intervals.
Details of the Proposed Changes
According to federation members, the revised intervals were reportedly implemented on Wednesday afternoon before being retracted by evening. LG Kumar, secretary of the federation, explained that the decision to revise the intervals was taken by oil companies on Tuesday evening but was subsequently withdrawn.
"Neither the oil companies nor the ministry have to face the consumers. We have to face the consequences of whatever is implemented. Companies must communicate well in advance to avoid inconvenience to the public as well as distributors," Kumar stated, highlighting the challenges faced by distributors.
The proposed changes included:
- For double-bottle connections: 14.2 kg domestic cylinders would see an interval increase from 25 to 35 days, while 5 kg and 10 kg composite cylinders would have intervals of 12 days and 25 days, respectively.
- For single-bottle connections: Intervals were reported as 25 days for 14.2 kg cylinders, 9 days for 5 kg cylinders, and 18 days for 10 kg composite cylinders.
- For Ujjwala connections: Purported intervals were 45 days for 14.2 kg cylinders and 16 days for 5 kg cylinders.
Appeal Against Panic Booking
Distributors have appealed to the public not to resort to panic booking, especially amid fears of cylinder shortages linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. They assured that the supply of domestic LPG cylinders remains normal and stable.
"However, the number of bookings has gone up drastically, leading to disruption in the regular delivery process of LPG cylinders," Kumar noted, underscoring how misinformation can impact operational efficiency.
This incident underscores the importance of clear communication between government bodies, oil companies, and distributors to prevent public confusion and ensure smooth service delivery in essential sectors like LPG distribution.
