A sudden and severe disruption in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder supply chain has thrown the consumers into a state of confusion and panic. Since Wednesday, the on-line booking systems for LPG cylinders have completely crashed, leaving thousands of households unable to register for their refills. Compounding the growing crisis, oil marketing companies (OMCs) have stopped the supply of commercial-category LPG cylinders, giving a massive blow to the restaurant, eatery, and catering business owners.

 

Even as the State-owned oil marketing companies and local gas agencies are maintaining that there is absolutely no shortage of LPG for domestic consumers, a large number of consumers were seen visiting their respective dealers on Thursday. Long queues of consumers were also seen at many LPG godowns across the city, exposing the glaring disconnect between companies’ stand and the ground reality. Many frustrated consumers are bypassing the conventional home delivery routes and travelling directly to agency godowns located around the city. These distribution centres are now witnessing heavy crowd.

 

Many consumers told ‘The Hitavada’ that, all the oil marketing companies have shut their respective LPG cylinder refill booking system via IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System). In addition, the official on-line mobile app is not functioning. “The on-line booking system has been paralysed and there is no backup mechanism in place. If the companies have enough stock of LPG, they should give it to the consumers. On one hand, the dealers are highlighting that adequate stock is available to meet regular household needs. However, a complete breakdown of the on-line booking system has made this stock virtually inaccessible for the end users,” said one of the consumers. In the meanwhile, an owner of a gas agency located in Pratap Nagar said that, the demand for LPG has gone up by 50-60 per cent in the last two days.

 

“Widespread panic buying of LPG cylinders across the city is being seen following fears of shortages linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. However, we are delivering the LPG refill within 3-4 days. As far as the disruption of the on-line system is concerned, the oil marketing companies are answerable for it,” he clarified. When contacted, a company official admitted that a server failure has disrupted the on-line booking system. “But we have provided a whatsapp number through which consumers can make the bookings. We are also accepting payments through UPI,” he said, requesting not to disclose his identity. 

 

 

Qatar Airways has suspended its Nagpur-Doha flight till March 31 due to the war in West Asia. Alok Vaidya, Managing Director of Rupsha Aero Services Private Limited and Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Vidarbha Chapter said, “Currently, the Qatar Airways website is not showing any flights or taking bookings till April 1.” Previously, Qatar Airways used to operate five flights in a week except Saturdays and Mondays. Qatar Airways would give a notification and flight updates on its portal in the coming days. Apart from this, there have been very low or almost no flight disruptions on the direct flight from Nagpur to Sharjah. Air Arabia operates the Sharjah flight from Nagpur’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. Air Arabia operates two flights in a week - on Friday and Saturday.

 

The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has directed M/s Confidence Petroleum India Limited that, it must adhere to the guidelines of Union Government and ensure that LPG should be stored and supplied for domestic consumption. Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode, during motion hearing of the petition filed by six city LPG dealers, issued notices to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) apart from the company and listed next hearing on March 17. LPG dealers, aggrieved by the decision of the company to stick to its international commitment, approached the HC and cited that they are unable to meet the domestic requirements. Listing the petition before the bench, Adv Shyam Dewani pointed out that due to ongoing war in Middle East, Union Government invoked Essential Commodities Act and regulated the supply of LPG, with priority to domestic consumers first. As such, the city LPG dealers approached Confidence Group to have relook at its exports orders and divert the supply to meet the domestic gas demand. Adv Dewani said the act of company policy of sticking to international commitment at this time of emergency basically indicates profit maximisation. Also, same is in blatant violation of Government’s order that explicitly prohibit such activities and the act of company exacerbates the ongoing crisis.