Dal makhni, mutton and now petha- India’s LPG shortage has found its latest, sweetest victim in Agra, where hundreds of sweet shops are closing their ovens as bottles run out and answers are scarce.
Gas crisis halted production at Agra company’s Petha units
Dozens of manufacturing units in Agra, home to one of India’s best-known regional confectioneries, have either completely suspended operations or are limping on dwindling cylinder stocks after commercial LPG supplies went out, leaving manufacturers without a viable fuel source.
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Rajesh Agarwal, president of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Petha Kutir Association, raised the alarm on Saturday, warning that the shortage has dealt a severe blow to sweet-making units across the city.
Agarwal told news agency PTI, “Petha production has been badly hit. Some units have been completely shut down while others are running operations with the limited pressure cylinders they currently have. If the supply is not restored soon, the remaining units may also be forced to shut down soon,” he said.
Agarwal added that it was not clear when gas supplies would return to normal.
Why Agra’s Petha manufacturers can’t simply switch fuels
What makes this crisis particularly acute is the regulatory constraint unique to Agra’s geography. The city falls within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), an ecologically protected area surrounding the Taj Mahal, where the use of wood and coal as fuel is strictly prohibited.
For petha manufacturers, LPG is not just a convenience – it is the only legally permissible energy source available to them.
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Producers thus have no backup option. When the gas runs out, the ovens cool down.
The scale of what is at stake
The numbers underline the seriousness of the situation. Around 70 large gas-fired production units capable of collectively generating petha value are concentrated in the Noori Darwaza area of Agra alone. ₹20 thousand per day. In addition to them, more than 500 smaller units support themselves throughout the city.
The petha trade is a centuries-old, deeply traditional industry that has involved several families for generations – a living part of Agra’s heritage that long predated the modern tourist economy built around the Taj Mahal.
The industry appeals to the district administration
The association has formally appealed to the district administration to expedite the restoration of commercial gas supply to prevent further damage to the industry.
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Agarwal confirmed that traders had already raised the issue with the authorities, who assured them that a solution would be found soon – although no timetable was given.
The district judge denies that there is any deficiency
However, the official response struck a markedly different tone. District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa Bangari on Friday said there was no shortage of gas in the district, instead claiming that some individuals were deliberately spreading rumors about the supply crisis. He warned that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for spreading such misinformation.
Prasadam distribution affected, says head of Annapurna temple in Varanasi
Prasad distribution at the Annapurna temple in Varanasi was affected due to a perceived shortage of LPG cylinders, though authorities in Uttar Pradesh reiterated that there was no supply crisis and warned of strict measures against hoarding and black marketing.
Mahant Shankar Giri Maharaj claimed that the temple’s ‘ann kshetra’ is facing severe shortage of cooking gas, making it difficult to prepare prasad for devotees.
“Earlier the gas agencies used to supply one or two cylinders but that too has stopped in the last two to three days,” he said, adding that one of the two cooking units at the temple had shut down since Saturday morning while the other was on the verge of shutting down.
The temple used to distribute prasad to around 20,000 to 25,000 devotees daily, but on Saturday it could accommodate only about 3,000 people, Maharaj said, adding that officials had assured him of the supply but the bottles had not yet reached the temple.
