No shortage of domestic LPG; commercial cylinder supply issue to ease in a week: Muniyappa

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K. H. Muniyappa on Thursday said that there was no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in the State, and pointed out that the difficulties in the supply of commercial cylinders would be resolved within a week.

He said Iran had permitted gas supplies to India through the Strait of Hormuz, and two ships carrying LPG were on their way to Mumbai. The State currently had stocks sufficient for about 10 days, he added, promising that there would be no difficulty in supplying cylinders to households.

He urged the public not to panic or hoard cylinders. “Some people are booking and storing cylinders unnecessarily due to fear. The government will ensure supply to consumers in a lawful manner,” he said.

The Minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Central government seeking support to ensure smooth LPG supply.

Replying to a discussion on LPG shortage in the Legislative Council, the Minister said the situation had arisen due to disruptions in global supplies caused by the ongoing conflict.

Drawing on his experience as a former Union Minister, he said around 30% of India’s LPG was produced domestically, while about 70% was imported. However, the LPG required for household consumption was largely produced within the country, and therefore there would be no shortage of cooking gas for domestic use, he said.

Meeting with oil companies

Mr. Muniyappa added that he would hold a meeting with officials of oil companies on Friday to discuss ways to address the shortage of commercial cylinders supplied to hotels and other establishments. After the meeting, the government would also hold consultations with representatives of the hotel industry and inform the House about the measures taken.

He said the government had prioritised LPG supply to hospitals and schools to ensure essential services were not affected. Steps would also be taken to ensure commercial cylinder supply for hotels and for functions in wedding halls, he added.

The Minister warned that strict action would be taken against black marketing of LPG cylinders.

During the discussion, Congress members, including Ivan D’Souza and Nagaraj Yadav, criticised the Centre, holding it responsible for the present situation.