LPG shortage: Civil Supplies Commissioner issues advisory

With the LPG shortage triggered by the West Asia crisis persisting in Kerala, the Commissioner, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, on Tuesday issued an advisory for the general public and non-domestic LPG consumers detailing the dos and don’ts and priority sectors.

In the case of non-domestic consumers, hospitals, schools including anganwadis, crematoriums, industrial canteens, school and college hostels, community kitchens/Subhiksha hotels, old-age homes and orphanages will be treated as priority sectors and ensured 100% availability.

Hotels, restaurants, canteens, food processing units, kitchens run by the government and local government institutions, and migrant labourers will be treated as ‘semi-priority’ sectors and issued 40% of their actual requirement.

As part of surveillance measures, inspections will be conducted in gas agencies, hotels, commercial establishments. A State Crisis Management Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary has been formed. The Commissioner, Civil Supplies will act as the State Nodal Officer.

The public has been advised to avoid hoarding LPG cylinders and panic booking and to inform the authorities about misuse, black marketeering or overpricing of cylinders. In the case of the commercial consumers, regulating the distribution is unavoidable in the current scenario, the Commissioner, K. Hima, said.

Consumers in the non-domestic category such as hotels and restaurants should adhere to the guidelines issued by the government and, ideally, should shift to ecofriendly and sustainable options such as piped natural gas (PNG), the government said. They should also explore other options such as the use of firewood until the crisis is over.

All commercial and industrial LPG consumers have been directed to apply for PNG connections if it is available in their respective areas. Not doing so could eventually entail LPG regulations in the future, the statement said. For handling emergency requirements, a web portal https://www.lpgtrackerkerala.in is now operational. Applications regarding emergency LPG requirements (non-domestic) can be filed through the portal. The applications will be dealt with by the District Crisis Management Committees concerned.

“Only with the cooperation of the people can this situation be effectively handled,” the Commissioner said.