Shortage of Commercial LPG Cylinders in Telangana, Minister Uttam Writes to Centre

Telangana has been facing a significant cut in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders from the Centre. Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday said that the state is currently receiving only about 20 per cent of the usual daily supply. He was speaking to the media after conducting a high-level review of the gas supply situation. However, he clarified that there is no shortage of cylinders meant for domestic consumers.

Earlier, the state used to receive around 23,000 commercial cylinders per day, but the supply has now dropped to just 6,200 cylinders daily. In this context, the minister said that a letter has been written to the Central government requesting additional supply of commercial cylinders.

He further stated that about 2.3 lakh domestic cylinders are being supplied in the state every day. Assuring that there is no shortage for household consumers, the minister advised people not to panic or place advance bookings unnecessarily, as it would burden the system.

In view of the shortage of commercial cylinders, the state government has decided to prioritise distribution to schools, hospitals, and Central and State government institutions. He also said that the Central government has kept 1,740 kilolitres of kerosene available for use in emergency situations.

To effectively monitor the situation, a 24-hour Command and Control Centre has been set up, the minister said. A dedicated helpline has also been launched to assist the public. He warned that strict action would be taken against those hoarding gas cylinders and selling them at higher prices.

According to official data, Telangana has about 1.3 crore domestic LPG connections. A 24-hour Command and Control Centre has been established for monitoring, and a toll-free number — 180042800333 has been set up to receive complaints.

Police Commissioner Warns of Cyber Frauds

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar warned that cybercriminals are exploiting the gas shortage situation and urged the public to remain vigilant against cyber frauds.

He advised people not to click on fake links sent through WhatsApp or SMS in the name of e-KYC updates or urgent gas bookings. Clicking on unknown links or installing APK files sent by fraudsters on mobile phones can be dangerous, he cautioned.

He also urged the public to be wary of fake advertisements on social media that promise immediate cylinder delivery or additional cylinders. For gas bookings or e-KYC updates, citizens should use only the official apps or websites of authorised gas companies, he said.