Even as the Delhi government claims that there are no hiccups in the LPG supply, the ground situation tells a different story with restaurant owners paying extra to buy cylinders from the black market, according to spot checks by The Hindu. Also, prices at eateries ranging from tea to dal makhani continue to be up by about 15-20% and are unlikely to come down even if the war ends, said multiple eatery owners. 

On April 13, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the cooking distribution system across the city is functioning “smoothly” and “adequate stock is available at all times”. Of the daily allocated 6,480 LPG cylinders (19 kg equivalent) for the commercial category, the average daily offtake over the past week was only 4,268 cylinders, showing that “supply is exceeding demand”, the CMO said in a statement on April 13.