‘Do Not Panic Over LPG Shortage, Find Alternative Resources’

Suman Gupta, an entrepreneur and a homemaker from Lucknow, says supply of LPG cylinders has forced users like her to explore other options. Her views:

Things have been over exaggerated in the past couple of months and what I could make out from the discussions amongst my circles and the news appearing in the newspapers that the crisis is somewhat made up by users. Let me share my personal experience.

Earlier, I used to book for a refill when I had a stock of three-four days and the booking was instant. i.e. after 20 days of the last booking, I used to get a confirmation instantly and the refill was delivered in a couple of days. However, now, as the booking period has been increased to 25 days (and that too after the date of delivery) and panic booking by customers, the booking number always remains engaged.

So, as my last delivery was made on March 1, my booking was accepted on March 28 (that too in the wee hours) and the DSC No. was generated after a couple of days followed by the delivery after 4 days. That is the difference in the prevailing situation!

I would also like to share a light moment. A few days after the panic begin, I also panicked and just as an act of pacification, my husband took me to the gas agency where I saw people crowding the counters just for the sake of getting a booking done at the counter!

However, the person there was calm and polite enough to give the same assurance repeatedly: Please go home and book the refill through the mobile number… you may have to redial 30–40 times, but it will be done after the stipulated period of time. Or better try after midnight as most of the panic makers are asleep! That was all and we happily returned home.

Secondly, I took out my induction plate which was dumped in the garbage for years and learned how to use it on you tube, we had been using it for making tea, Parathas, warming milk etc, along with other conventional and heavy cooking on LPG. In our society meeting also, we shared our experience and almost every family agreed to the idea of dual usage of cooking resources.

However, getting an induction plate was also a big struggle as its sale has shot up and prices are also skyrocketing but thanks to my husband who has a garment shop in the local market, the number of units required in our building was sourced at genuine rates!

I have also noticed one more thing – there are about 3 gas agencies in our locality and besides 15 – 20 people buzzing out there, I have not seen any such queue or long 500 meter lines for refills as shown on TV! Maybe things have eased down now and I would also like to add that people, especially home makers should avoid panicking and have some faith in our governments and local administration who are making endless appeals to us, the citizens.

Of course there are problems for those not having a genuine connection (students, employees from elsewhere, etc) and they are buying refills in black at exploded rates (earlier ₹1,500 and now ₹2500 or more) but this is not the fault of the government as everyone tries to explore ‘Apadaa mein awasar’!

As told to Rajat Rai