Today’s LPG Shortage News: As cooking gas becomes increasingly difficult to obtain, hotels are being forced to switch to wood-burning stoves and cut back on the food on their menus. Meanwhile, migrants in Hyderabad are repairing old hearth stoves to handle cooking, leading to increased demand at repair centers for pump stoves.
“We work in hotels and repair stoves only because of gas shortage. We use diesel to run these stoves as kerosene is not available,” Sanjay, a migrant laborer from Orissa, told ANI.
India is experiencing a fifth consecutive day of LPG crisis, with disruptions reported in the country’s major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai.
The crisis comes after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, followed by retaliation from the Islamic Republic. The conflict led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries around 85-90% of India’s LPG imports from West Asia, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Government move to curb hoarding
The central government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 to maintain natural gas supplies amid supply shortfalls in the country due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
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The Act empowers the central government to regulate or prohibit the production, supply, distribution, trade and commerce of commodities declared as “essential” (such as food, fertiliser, medicine and fuel). It is usually used as a step to prevent hoarding, black marketing and artificial scarcity.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had also earlier assured that India has sufficient availability of petrol and diesel across the country, while the LPG situation continues to be a “matter of concern” for the government.
The price of a gas bottle for cooking has increased
The price of a 14.2 kg gas cylinder for home cooking has been increased by ₹60 last week. Meanwhile, the 19 kg commercial cylinder is becoming more expensive ₹144 in major cities and states of the country.
Customers can book LPG refills from home via WhatsApp, SMS/IVRS or relevant OMC mobile apps.
A domestic LPG cylinder weighing 14.2 kg is somewhere in between ₹900-100 in India, depending on the city. While the 19 kg commercial cylinder stands around ₹1,800-2,200 in Indian cities.
The Petroleum Ministry noted on Friday that trends show panic, with demand for LPG bookings reaching as high as 75.7 million against an average of 55.7 million in the pre-war period. “No need for panic booking, no drying up at any LPG dealer,” Sharma added.
Watch LIVE updates on LPG shortage in India with Mint
