India’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies face significant disruption as tensions in West Asia remain intense. In retaliation for the US-Israeli attack, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz – the key sea route through which India receives most of its LPG imports. With nearly 62% of India’s cooking gas imported, hotels, restaurants, manufacturers and educational institutions are facing shortage of LPG.
However, the government has consistently maintained that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene or LPG in the country. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament today: “The world has not faced such a moment in modern energy history… India’s oil supply position is secure and the assured volume exceeds what the Hormuz would supply.”
“Shri Ram doesn’t even have a cylinder”
Meanwhile, Ashneer Grover – a former Shark Tank India judge and entrepreneur – shared a screenshot of an email from Shri Ram School in Delhi-NCR, which Ashneer described as one of the top schools in India, which is facing non-availability of LPG cylinders for its supplier.
Calling it “ironic”, he shared a screenshot of the email, which reads: “Dear Parents, Namaste! We would like to urgently inform you that our food supplier has informed us that it is unable to provide the required amount of LPG to provide school lunches and snacks due to shortages due to the ongoing West Asia war.”
“Ok – the shortage must be real! Irony: Shri Ram ke paas bhi cylinder nahi hai,” the former judge of reality TV show Shark Tank tweeted.
A screenshot of the email revealed the school has asked parents to make back-up arrangements from next week. According to the report, the school’s supplier had only two days’ supply left and it remained uncertain whether he would be able to procure the LPG cylinder in time.
Ashneer Grover’s children attend Shri Ram School, a Gurugram-based educational institution with a branch in Delhi. Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain Grover have two children – a son and a daughter.
The Center is asking states to monitor LPG supply
The Center has advised the States and Union Territories to keep a close watch on LPG supply on a daily basis and take strict action against any violation. Authorities have also been asked to curb the spread of rumors and maintain law and order amid speculation that the ongoing conflict in West Asia could disrupt cylinder supplies.
The advisory comes as concerns grow over the availability of LPG in several regions. Meanwhile, induction cooktops have sold out quickly on several online platforms as consumers look for alternative cooking options amid uncertainty.
