CM Siddaramaiah writes to Hardeep Singh Puri, requesting intervention in commercial LPG shortage in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, March 10
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urgently requested Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, via a letter to intervene in the severe commercial LPG shortage in Bengaluru.
He claimed that disruption in supply following a central directive is forcing restaurants, hotels, and catering services to the brink of temporary closure.
Highlighting that a revised order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which he said prioritises domestic LPG, has caused an unintended supply crisis for commercial users.
In a letter to the Union Minister for Petroleum, he said, "While the intention behind the order to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country is well understood and appreciated, its implementation appears to have led to an unintended shortage of commercial LPG in Bengaluru."
"Several hotels and restaurant associations in the city have reported that they are unable to procure commercial LPG cylinders, and many establishments are expressing concern that they may have to temporarily shut operations if supplies are not restored soon," the letter said, further highlighting that the city hosts large ecosystem of small restaurants, mess facilities, and catering units that serve lakhs of people every day.
He said that the "sudden disruption" in the state's traditional supply is affecting hotels, catering establishments, and other commercial users in Bengaluru.
The letter further said, "This issue also affects a large number of students and working professionals who live away from their homes and depend on hotels and mess facilities for regular meals. In addition, Choultries (wedding halls), hostels, and event venues that rely on commercial LPG for food preparation are also facing uncertainty, particularly with scheduled social and community events."
The CM requested the union minister to intervene to ensure "adequate" commercial LPG supply is made available for hotels, restaurants, choultries, community halls and any other pure commercial establishments.
The letter further stated, "Appropriate directions to the Oil Marketing Companies to address the current supply constraints would help ease the situation. A timely resolution will help ensure that businesses continue to operate smoothly while also avoiding inconvenience to thousands of citizens who rely on these services on a daily basis."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good that the CM has written to the Centre. But this shows a lack of coordination between state and central agencies. These supply chain issues should have been anticipated before implementing the revised order. Hope it gets resolved before more small businesses suffer.
My family runs a small catering service. We have two wedding orders this week and we are literally running around the city trying to find cylinders. The priority for households is understandable, but completely neglecting commercial needs is hurting livelihoods.
Living in Indiranagar, I've seen the panic. Restaurant prices are going up citing "fuel shortage". While the CM's letter is a step, there needs to be more transparency. Is this a genuine supply issue or are some dealers creating artificial scarcity?
The impact on students is the most worrying. Many hostels and messes in areas like Koramangala and BTM Layout are struggling. These are kids away from home. Ensuring their regular meals should be as much a priority as domestic supply. Hope Mr. Puri acts swiftly.
This is what happens with top-down decisions made in Delhi without considering ground realities in major cities. Bengaluru's economy relies heavily on its food services sector. A little more foresight from the Ministry could have prevented this crisis.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.