Mumbai: Mumbai residents booking domestic LPG cylinders are now facing delivery delays of up to seven days after panic buying over the past two days created a heavy backlog, even as the govt moved to restore faulty booking systems and ordered uninterrupted supply for homes, public institutions and essential services.Thousands of consumers had complained that LPG booking apps and missed-call services were not functioning properly, making it difficult to place refill orders. In response, the state govt on Friday directed oil companies to immediately fix technical glitches and ensure smooth access for consumers.Black marketing of cylinders continued for more than double the normal price of Rs 912.50, sources said, while there was chaos and long queues outside many dealer outlets such as Bhandup and Santacruz on Friday. “There is no gas at home and so once my booking was done online, I arrived with my empty cylinder demanding a replacement,” said Manoj Mali who stood in a long queue at Bhandup. Many others still complained of IVRS/online booking process being difficult and non-functional. The dealers plan to keep services/deliveries open on Saturday and Sunday to cater to rush.Officials announced control rooms at the state, divisional, district and taluka levels, along with a dedicated WhatsApp grievance redressal facility to speed up complaint handling.A senior state official said domestic LPG cylinders are available in higher quantities than in the last six months and insisted there is no shortage. “There is no shortage for domestic LPG and action will be taken against fake news on social media,” the official said, appealing to citizens not to believe rumours.Maharashtra’s average daily LPG demand is around 9,000 metric tonne, while refinery output has been increased by 22% — to nearly 11,000 metric tonne a day to strengthen supplies. A dealer said adequate production and stock are in place for domestic LPG.With major festivals approaching, authorities have directed that uninterrupted LPG supply be maintained for public institutions and essential services.Commercial LPG deliveries, though, have not yet begun in Mumbai. The petroleum minister informed Parliament that commercial establishments would receive 20% of their average monthly requirement. Priority allocation under Central guidelines is being given to hospitals, school mid-day meal schemes, ashram schools, community kitchens and govt educational institutions.Additional chief secretary of the food, civil supplies and consumer protection department, Anil Diggikar, has directed all agencies to maintain smooth LPG supply and closely monitor distribution across the state. In the Mumbai-Thane rationing area, a committee under the controller of rationing will oversee coordination, with participation from the deputy commissioner of police and deputy controller (rationing). The joint commissioner of police (administration) will coordinate with deputy commissioners in Mumbai and Thane.Officials said adequate stock of domestic PNG is also available, and the state has sufficient reserves of petrol and diesel. Refineries in Maharashtra are operating at full capacity, producing about 15,000 kilolitres of petrol and 38,000 kilolitres of diesel daily, sources in petroleum ministry added.Meanwhile, MGL, in a statement, said, “Due to the prevailing geopolitical developments affecting the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the Central Government has issued an order and directed diversion of natural gas to priority sectors. As per the order, MGL will maintain gas supplies to Domestic PNG customers and CNG stations at 100% of past period average consumption. The order also requires partial curtailment of gas supply to Industrial and Commercial customers most of whom have the ability to switch to alternate fuel and energy sources.“
