The Aryavarth Express:
New Delhi: Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South, has written to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighting concerns over a potential shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) affecting hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru.
The issue has emerged as a ripple effect of the ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted parts of the global fuel supply chain. Reports indicate that several eateries and hotels in the city are facing difficulties in procuring commercial LPG cylinders, forcing some establishments to temporarily shut down operations.
In a post on X, Surya said he had conveyed the concerns of the hospitality sector to the minister. “Reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. The Minister has constituted a high-priority panel to ensure LPG supply remains uninterrupted to non-domestic users, including hotels,” he wrote while sharing a copy of his letter.
The MP forwarded representations from the Bangalore Hotels Association, which warned that restaurants and hotels in the city heavily rely on commercial LPG cylinders for daily kitchen operations.
In the letter sent on Monday, Surya noted that most commercial kitchens currently lack viable alternatives such as piped natural gas (PNG) connections or large-scale electric cooking systems.
“Any disruption in LPG supply could directly impact restaurant operations, employment in the sector, and services provided to consumers,” the letter stated.
The association also expressed support for the government’s efforts to ensure adequate LPG supply for households but requested assurance that commercial establishments continue to receive uninterrupted supply through the existing distribution system.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil refineries to increase LPG production in response to the current supply constraints triggered by geopolitical developments in West Asia.
According to the ministry, the additional production will primarily be channelled towards domestic LPG use to safeguard household energy security amid volatility in the global oil and energy markets.
To manage supply and prevent hoarding or black-marketing, the ministry has also introduced a 25-day inter-booking period for LPG consumers.
The government said these measures aim to maintain stability in LPG availability while addressing the pressures caused by the ongoing regional crisis affecting fuel supply chains.
