LPG distributors appeal to customers amid supply constraints, delivery disputes in Hyderabad

The Federation of LPG Distributors of India has urged domestic gas consumers to remain patient amid supply constraints and logistical disruptions. It said distributors have limited control over inventory and asked customers to report overcharging while highlighting measures taken to ease shortages.

Hyderabad: Against the backdrop of the ongoing supply challenges of gas cylinders, logistical disruptions and tensions between consumers and delivery personnel, the Federation of LPG Distributors of India (FLDI) has appealed to domestic gas customers to exercise restraint and understanding.

The FLDI national president, P Venkateshwar Rao, in a statement on Wednesday, made it clear that local gas distributors have no control over inventory. Dealers only receive what the oil companies allot them, meaning the old days of getting a cylinder instantly, just like ordering milk, are no longer possible, he said.

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To mitigate consumer hardship during the crunch, due to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, distributors successfully advocated for reducing the booking restriction window from 45 days to 25 days, alongside pushing for relaxations regarding e-KYC deadlines and OTP requirements.

If any delivery personnel collect an amount over and above the prescribed charges, consumers were requested to bring the matter to the immediate notice of the concerned distributor. The gas distributors should be notified immediately rather than waiting, which allows distributors to penalise the specific individuals responsible rather than casting blame across the entire distributor network.

Recalling the critical frontline services rendered by delivery staff during the Covid pandemic, where many risked their lives to maintain household energy supplies, the federation called for empathy and cooperation.