Gas cylinder deliveries to be disrupted tomorrow! LPG dealers to protest in Delhi

LPG distributors from across the country are set to protest in Delhi on October 26 to press for their demands. They have warned of an indefinite strike if their demands are not met; however, the Federation of LPG Distributors of India (FLDI) has distanced itself from this action.

LPG distributors nationwide will hold a protest in Delhi on Monday, October 26, to voice their demands. The LPG Distributors Association (India) has announced a sit-in (dharna) at the CBD Ground in New Delhi. The organization has warned that if their demands are not fulfilled, distributors may go on an indefinite strike.

Conversely, another organization—the Federation of LPG Distributors of India (FLDI)—has distanced itself from this protest and the threatened strike. The Federation has urged distributors to continue the supply and delivery of cylinders. Consequently, it remains unclear how many distributors will participate in the protest or what the actual impact might be should a strike take place.

Divergent stances between the two organizations

In a statement issued on Sunday, October 25, the FLDI declared that it does not support the proposed protest or the indefinite strike. The Federation stated that it is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Petroleum and state-run oil companies, claiming to have received assurances that their issues will be resolved soon.

However, there has been no independent confirmation of these assurances from the Ministry. The FLDI argues that protesting is not the appropriate course of action while channels of dialogue remain open. It has appealed to distributors to disregard unverified calls for action and to ensure that the supply of LPG to customers continues. As there is no official confirmation regarding the total membership of either organization, it is difficult to estimate how many distributors from across the country will join Monday’s protest. Waiting for a Commission Increase for Eight Years

BS Sharma, National President of the LPG Distributors Association (India)—which has announced a protest—outlined the association's demands during a press conference at the Press Club of India. According to Sharma, distributor commissions saw a minor increase in 2022, following a long period since 2018; however, even this was merely an interim measure. The association states that the issue regarding revisions to commissions, administrative expenses, and home-delivery charges for cylinders has remained unresolved for a long time.

The association claims that several memoranda have been submitted to the government over the past year, yet no concrete solution has emerged. Distributors are demanding an increase in their commissions. During the association’s national convention held in Bhopal in July, a demand was raised to set the delivery commission at ₹75. (The current status of this specific figure remains to be confirmed.)

Opposition to the Directive to Discontinue LPG in Areas with PNG

A major point of contention for the association is a directive issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 24, 2026. The association argues that the policy—which mandates the discontinuation of LPG connections and supplies in areas where Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is available—will adversely affect the businesses of LPG distributors. The association alleges that this arrangement will reduce the income of LPG distributors and limit the choices available to consumers. Furthermore, the organization has questioned the move to halt new LPG connections in favor of promoting PNG.

Meanwhile, the government has stated that the objective of this policy is to reduce LPG consumption in areas served by pipelines, thereby redirecting cylinders to regions that lack pipeline gas infrastructure. This measure was introduced amidst global disruptions in gas supply chains.

Allegations of Forced Sales Imposed by Oil Companies

The association has accused officials from state-owned oil companies of pressuring distributors to sell various products, such as cooking stoves, rubber tubes, lighters, and aprons. The association states that distributors should not be compelled to sell such products.

Furthermore, the association alleges that sales officers alter distributors' orders, resulting in the delivery of 19 kg commercial cylinders and Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders. The association has also demanded legal action regarding this matter. The ministry and the oil companies have yet to provide their perspective on these allegations.

What will be the impact on the general public?

For now, a protest and demonstration have been announced for October 26. There has been no definitive announcement regarding the suspension of cylinder supplies. Meanwhile, the FLDI has instructed its members to continue with deliveries.

Therefore, the general public need not be concerned about a potential disruption in cylinder supplies at this stage. However, if a large number of distributors join the strike, the booking and delivery of cylinders could be affected.

Government’s stance awaited

The FLDI claims that they received assurances of a resolution during discussions with the ministry and the oil companies. However, as of the time of writing, there has been no official response from the Ministry of Petroleum or the relevant state-owned oil companies. The extent of the impact of the protest will depend on the level of participation by the distributors and the government's subsequent actions.