New Delhi, Mar 12: Senior Delhi Police officials have directed their officers to prepare a list of gas agencies in their respective jurisdictions and deploy personnel to maintain law and order in view of the ongoing problem of LPG supply in the city.
The move aims to ensure smooth distribution of cooking gas cylinders and prevent any attempt at black marketing during the supply crunch, police said on Thursday.
A senior police officer stated that Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to maintain a visible police presence around gas agencies in their areas.
“The SHOs will deploy police personnel along with PCR vans and motorcycle patrol riders near gas agencies to maintain law and order and ensure that the distribution process remains smooth,” the officer said.
He said the primary objective of the measure is to deter any attempt to hoard or illegally sell LPG cylinders at inflated prices.
“The sole motive is to maintain law and order and avoid any kind of black marketing. We want to ensure that people receive LPG cylinders through the proper distribution system,” the officer added.
He further explained that beat staff and motorcycle patrol units will monitor gas agencies and their surrounding areas regularly.
Another officer mentioned that the police are also compiling a list of shopkeepers who allegedly refill small LPG cylinders at excessively high prices, which constitutes black marketing.
“Such shopkeepers will be identified, and strict action will be taken against them. No one will be permitted to engage in gas black marketing,” the officer asserted.
He added that illegally filling LPG cylinders poses a serious safety hazard. “Filling cylinders illegally can pose a risk of fire incidents and blasts. Apart from being illegal, it can also endanger lives and property,” he said.
Police teams, including plain-clothes personnel, have been instructed to remain vigilant and gather information on such illegal activities.
“Motorcycle riders and plain-clothes police personnel will keep checking their areas and contact local sources to find out if anyone is involved in illegal refilling or black marketing of LPG,” the officer said.
These directives come at a time when irregular LPG supplies have begun to affect households and businesses across Delhi. Industry representatives report that the shortage is impacting restaurants and cafes, many of which rely heavily on LPG for their daily operations.
With LPG supplies becoming irregular, several eateries have allegedly run out of their fuel stock, forcing them to make operational adjustments, including limiting menu options and switching to alternative cooking methods. Some establishments have begun shifting to piped natural gas or induction-based cooking to manage the situation.
Manpreet Singh, Honorary Treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), noted that several restaurants in the capital are not receiving regular LPG supplies. “Many establishments in Delhi are not receiving regular LPG supplies. Some of them are shifting to alternatives like piped natural gas and induction cooking to keep their kitchens running,” Singh told.
Industry representatives also warned that if the disruption continues for long, smaller establishments may struggle to manage rising operational costs without affecting staff wages.
The shortage comes amid the widening conflict in West Asia, following which the government has prioritised the allocation of domestically produced natural gas for LPG production, compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped cooking gas sectors. Under the revised allocation policy notified through a government gazette, the requirements of these sectors will be met before supplies are provided to other industries.
Police will continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent any attempt to exploit the shortage through illegal sale or distribution of LPG cylinders.
Meanwhile, several protests and roadblocks were seen in Noida, with the police managing the traffic.
Visuals from Delhi’s Vikas Nagar showed a young boy carrying an empty LPG cylinder on his back while roaming from street to street in search of a refill.
“I have been searching for a shop since morning. The cylinder at home ran out of gas yesterday evening. Shopkeepers are selling it for Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500. Earlier, we used to get it for Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100,” he said, adding that people in his area are struggling to get cylinders as supply has run out at most shops.
