NEW DELHI: Nearly 800,000 new piped gas consumers have joined the ranks in the past month, driven by the government and gas companies to promote the use of piped gas and reduce dependence on cooking gas cylinders, a senior official said on Sunday.“We have managed well and have continued to deliver around 5 million cylinders, fully meeting domestic demand and up to 80 per cent of commercial demand. There is no reason to worry about shortages,” the official told TOI. About half of the new piped gas connections (connecting domestic and commercial uses) have already been started, with the remainder being processed.Separately, over 16,000 LPG connections have been abandoned at the urging of the government to ensure that those with active piped gas connections do not continue to retain cylinders, thereby easing pressure on the system. Those who wish to relinquish contact can submit their details on a designated portal, which has a “hall of fame” to recognize consumers who voluntarily relinquish contact.Amid concerns about supply shortages and long queues, officials said stocks of crude oil, petroleum products and cooking gas are adequate and being replenished. “We have been managing pretty well for more than a month, and we are grabbing supplies and importing from where there is a need,” the official said.The center urges people to use alternatives such as induction and electric cooktops where feasible. Officials said online cylinder bookings have risen to 95%, while captcha-based deliveries – designed to prevent diversion at the distributor level – have risen from 53% in February to 90% now.To help migrants who do not have regular access to LPG, oil companies have sold around 660,000 portable 5kg cylinders since March 23, including 90,000 on Saturday, compared with the pre-war daily average of 70-75,000.The government expects the recent moves to improve the flow of raw materials to industries facing shortages. From the packaging sector to pharmaceutical companies, supply disruptions caused by the conflict in West Asia have hit businesses hard.
