Lucknow: Despite no official change in LPG booking rules, beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana across parts of the city are reportedly being asked by gas agencies to wait up to 35 days before booking a refill, disrupting daily cooking for low-income households.Consumers said they are unable to place refill requests even after the usual gap, with agency staff citing “internal restrictions” or supply issues. Many households claim the delay has left them struggling to cook meals, forcing some to switch back to traditional fuels like coal and firewood.In Thakurganj, Shabana Khatoon said the uncertainty has affected her daily routine. Living in rented accommodation, she is now considering moving back to her village. “I can manage somehow, even eat less, but my children cannot,” she said.Rukhsana Salim from Malihabad said the scheme, once a relief, has now become a source of stress. “We are neither getting LPG nor a clear response from the agency,” she said, adding that she has started using coal to ensure timely meals.Residents in Sadar Bazaar also reported difficulties in accessing refills. Baby, who booked a cylinder during Ramazan, said she has not received it yet. “We were not getting gas regularly. How will we manage now?” she said.In Rajajipuram, several beneficiaries said deliveries remain pending despite confirmed bookings.“If the cylinder does not arrive soon, we will have to switch to a coal stove,” said Ram Dev. Gas agencies, however, said the waiting period — 35 days for households with double connections and 25 days for single connections — applies to all consumers and is not specific to Ujjwala beneficiaries. (Inputs from Mariyam Shakeel, Shruti Shukla, Amritansh Singh)
