Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reached out to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for urgent assistance in managing the shortage of commercial LPG and Auto LPG in Bengaluru. The Chief Minister highlighted a significant disparity between the demand for around 50,000 LPG cylinders daily and the current supply of only about 1,000 cylinders, leading to closures of various establishments. This scarcity is affecting a broad spectrum of the population, including students, IT professionals, farmers, and dairy producers who rely on services from the hospitality sector.
Siddaramaiah also expressed concerns about the absence of a monitoring system for commercial LPG distribution, leading to inefficiencies in allocation and delivery. He emphasized similar issues faced by Auto LPG, crucial for auto-rickshaws providing last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru, due to the lack of transparency and accountability in distribution. The Chief Minister is hopeful that the imminent arrival of two LPG tankers in India will alleviate the crisis, urging the Union Minister to ensure adequate allocation of both commercial LPG and Auto LPG to Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru.
The Chief Minister’s plea for immediate intervention from the Centre aims to resolve supply constraints and stabilize availability for commercial users and transport services in the state. Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa also highlighted the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in the state, urging cooperation from hotel owners and other users until fresh supplies arrive. Muniyappa disclosed that only a limited number of commercial cooking gas cylinders can currently be supplied to various establishments due to restrictions and supply challenges.
He informed stakeholders that the state requires approximately 40,000 commercial LPG cylinders daily but can only manage to supply about 1,000 cylinders to hotels at present. Muniyappa requested patience for a week, anticipating improvements once LPG-carrying ships reach the country. He mentioned ongoing talks with Iran to address the issue and expressed optimism that normalcy would return if the situation could be managed for a brief period.
