“Public sector oil marketing companies have reported that at present new LPG connections are available across the counter for genuine domestic customers,” Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha here.

Indian Oil Corp had reported that against the waiting list of 46,955 as on March 1, the list has reduced to 25,077 on April 1, for release of new LPG connections. “This waiting list is expected to be liquidated by May 15,” he said.

To another question, Patel said Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have reported that at present, there was no overall shortage of LPG in the country and LPG supplies are being made through indigenous production and imports.

However, backlog in LPG supplies in certain states was reported in January-February. Government had advised OMCs to liquidate the backlog in the country by operating the bottling plants on holidays and during extended hour, he said.

“At present, OMCs have not reported any backlog in supply of LPG in the country. OMCs are monitoring the situation on a day-to-day basis and corrective action is being taken wherever required,” he added.

Patel said the possibility of black marketing of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders by some unscrupulous elements cannot be ruled out due to the wide gap between the retail price of LPG for domestic use and the market price for commercial LPG.