Mumbai is experiencing a significant shortage of LPG cooking gas due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, particularly affecting commercial cylinder supplies for hotels and restaurants, which have been entirely halted. Panic buying among residents has surged, complicating the situation further.
Shortage of LPG cooking gas has hit Mumbai amid the ongoing West Asia conflict with the US-Israel attacking Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks in the Gulf region. Following this, the supply of commercial cylinders used by hotels and restaurants has been completely halted, the dealers stressed, adding that the eateries might have to face the crisis, Times of India reported.
Since Monday morning, the residents were seen buying cylinders as everybody panicked, with bookings getting multiplied. Families with two cylinders rushed to dealer outlets for refill bookings.
One of the suburban dealers told TOI, “Moreover, a new notification from the Union Ministry of Petroleum stipulates that domestic consumers can only book a new refill 25 days after receiving one cylinder.”
The dealer further noted that at least the domestic 14.2 kg cylinder is still available, adding that the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has been completely halted since Sunday.”This will lead to a crisis for hotels and restaurants that purchase these large cylinders,” he said. The LPG dealers said that hotels and other commercial establishments may be forced to buy domestic cylinders from the black market. “This is illegal as well as dangerous,” they stressed.
Another dealer urged the government to continue providing commercial cylinders even if they want to raise the price.”I suggest the govt charge hotels a higher price if it has to, but continue providing commercial cylinders. In any case, prices of both commercial and domestic cylinders were increased by Rs 115 and Rs 60, respectively, on Sunday,” TOI reported, quoting a dealer.
Earlier in the day, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issued a notice, stating that the gas-based crematorium furnaces will be temporarily closed following directives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This decision comes as the ministry has prioritised propane and butane supplies for domestic LPG consumption due to a crisis in the Middle East.
https://www.timesnownews.com/mumbai/lpg-shortage-hits-mumbai-hotels-and-restaurants-warn-of-crisis-amid-west-asia-conflict-mumbai-news-article-153794353