Admin to probe LPG ‘ghost deliveries’ in Haridwar

Haridwar: The district administration has launched an inquiry after several LPG consumers in Haridwar complained of receiving ‘delivery messages' from service providers for gas cylinders they neither booked nor received, officials said Tuesday.When consumers approached gas agencies for clarification, they were allegedly told that their cylinders had already been issued and that no fresh booking could be processed until the mandatory waiting period elapsed. The district control room, recently set up to handle LPG-related complaints, has registered over 250 grievances so far. Officials said nearly 60% complaints involve similar issues—either false delivery messages or denial of new bookings based on system records.DM Mayur Dixit acknowledged the complaints and said that an investigation has been ordered. "The district supply officer has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry. It could be a server-related issue, but strict action will be taken if any wrongdoing is found," he said.Consumers, however, allege foul play. Shubham Gautam, a customer, said his family was denied a refill after being informed their cylinder had already been delivered. "They asked us to complete the 25-day period for further booking. We never received any cylinder at home," he said.Another resident, Pooja Devi, reported a similar experience after waiting in line for hours at a gas agency. She claimed her booking request was rejected on the grounds that her cylinder had been dispatched days earlier. "This is a scam. Our quota is being sold in the black market," she alleged.Social activists have also raised concerns, accusing authorities of failing to curb alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders. Activist JP Badoni claimed that such discrepancies point to a larger issue. "If there is sufficient stock as claimed, why are consumers facing these problems? These delivery messages suggest a major scam," he said.