Munish Sood
Mandi
A Mandi resident has sought a review of the existing 25-day LPG cylinder booking cycle, arguing that consumers should not bear the additional burden arising from delays in cylinder delivery.
Neeraj Handa had submitted a complaint on April 9, 2026, through the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, highlighting delays in LPG cylinder booking and delivery. The matter was subsequently taken up at various administrative levels, with directions issued by the Deputy Commissioner’s office on April 29, followed by the Secretary, RPG, on May 6, the Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, on May 18, and the District Controller, Mandi, on June 10.
However, Handa said the basic issue raised in his complaint has still not been completely resolved.
According to him, if a consumer books an LPG cylinder after completing the 25-day eligibility period but delivery is delayed by another four to five days, the cylinder may reach the consumer only after 29 to 30 days. He said the next 25-day period is then linked to the date of actual delivery, effectively resulting in a further extension of the interval between successive bookings.
Handa has argued that consumers should not be penalised for delays that occur after a valid booking has been made. He has therefore suggested that the 25-day period should be calculated from the date of booking or the date of eligibility, rather than from the date on which the cylinder is actually delivered.
He has urged the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh to intervene and direct the concerned department and oil company to examine the existing mechanism and introduce necessary changes to ensure that LPG consumers receive cylinders at the intended intervals.
Handa has also clarified that his complaint is not against any private gas agency or its employees. His concern, he said, is limited to the existing booking and delivery mechanism and the need for systemic changes so that consumers do not face additional waiting periods because of delivery delays.
The issue has raised a broader question over whether the present LPG booking mechanism adequately safeguards consumers when delays in delivery affect their subsequent booking eligibility.
