New Delhi, March 11 Concerns over LPG supply have become a major issue for residents and students alike, with many households switching to induction stoves, risking higher electricity bills, while students in rented accommodations are increasingly relying on pre-ordered meals due to disruptions in energy supplies caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Resident groups say the situation is causing panic among families who have limited LPG reserves, with uncertainty about when they will receive refills.
Atul Goyal, president of the United Residents of Joint Association (URJA), an umbrella body representing about 2,500 RWAs across Delhi, said that many residents have approached the organization, complaining that they are unable to obtain LPG cylinders and are forced to use alternatives.
"People are coming to us saying they can't get gas cylinders anywhere and are forced to use induction stoves. But they are worried this will lead to a significant increase in electricity bills, and they are unsure how long they can continue like this," Goyal said.
The government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas, placing LPG production, along with CNG and piped cooking gas, at the top.
BN Jha, president of the Mukherjee Nagar RWA, said that the issue is particularly affecting students who live alone or in paying guest (PG) accommodations in the area, which has a large student population.
He said that several students have reported being unable to obtain LPG refills and are therefore compelled to rely on outside food, increasing their daily expenses. In some PG accommodations, the shortage has also reportedly led to a reduction in meal services.
"Students have reported that they are not getting gas refills and are forced to eat outside. In some PGs, residents have said that the number of meals has been reduced over the past few days, and some are serving only one meal a day," Jha said.
Sanjay Gupta, president of the Model Town RWA, said that residents are worried about running out of their remaining LPG stock.
"Many residents are visiting local distributors every morning just to ensure their booking is confirmed. One person said that the LPG cylinder he is currently using is about to finish, but he is unable to get a refill anywhere," Gupta said.
Some RWAs have also raised concerns among residents who rely on piped natural gas (PNG).
BS Vohra, president of the Federation of North East Delhi RWAs, said that many households in the area depend on PNG connections and do not maintain LPG connections as per existing norms.
He said that residents fear that if their piped gas supply is disrupted, they may not have access to LPG as a backup.
"Those who have PNG connections are generally not supposed to keep LPG connections. So the concern among residents is that if their PNG supply gets affected, they will not have the option of switching to LPG either," Vohra said.