Bengaluru, March 19 (NationPress) Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, addressed a letter to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday, advocating for immediate action to enhance the supply of commercial LPG and Auto LPG in Bengaluru due to a rising shortage.

In his correspondence, the Chief Minister emphasized that the recent disruptions in commercial LPG supply stem from new directives issued by the Union Ministry that prioritize domestic LPG distribution. He noted that the state government has complied with the Centre’s guidelines to regulate and prioritize supply for critical sectors.

However, Siddaramaiah stressed the alarming disparity between demand and supply. With an average daily need of about 50,000 LPG cylinders from restaurants, hotels, catering services, and paying guest accommodations, only approximately 1,000 cylinders are presently being provided. This shortfall has been a significant factor in the increasing closure of various establishments due to the unavailability of commercial LPG.

The repercussions of this situation are beginning to touch a broad spectrum of the community, including students, IT professionals, farmers, and dairy producers, all of whom rely on the hospitality sector's services.

Additionally, the Chief Minister raised issues regarding the absence of a monitoring mechanism for commercial LPG distribution. While an IT-based tracking system is available for domestic LPG supply, there remains no integrated platform to manage commercial LPG allocation and distribution, which has resulted in inefficiencies.

Siddaramaiah also highlighted that Auto LPG, which is essential for auto-rickshaws that facilitate last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru, is undergoing similar challenges. The lack of a monitoring system for Auto LPG distribution has led to a shortage of transparency and accountability, adversely affecting the livelihoods of numerous drivers.

Referring to reports indicating that India will soon receive two LPG tankers, Siddaramaiah expressed optimism that the additional supply would alleviate the ongoing crisis. He urged the Union Minister to ensure sufficient allocation of both commercial LPG and Auto LPG to Karnataka, especially given the high demand in Bengaluru.

The Chief Minister called for immediate action from the Centre to resolve the supply issues and stabilize availability for commercial users and transport services in the state.

It is worth noting that Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies Minister, K.H. Muniyappa, informed the Legislative Council on Wednesday that the state is experiencing a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders and has requested cooperation from hotel owners and other commercial users for a week until new supplies arrive.

Muniyappa conveyed that only a limited number of commercial cooking gas cylinders can be currently supplied to hotels, restaurants, industries, and dhabas due to ongoing restrictions and supply challenges.

He indicated that around 40,000 commercial LPG cylinders are needed daily in the state, but presently, only about 1,000 cylinders are being supplied to hotels. He urged stakeholders to remain patient for a week, expressing hope that the situation would improve once the ships carrying LPG reach the country.

"Sixteen ships are currently in queue in Iran. Their arrival could resolve the issue. The Centre is actively engaging with Iran to address the matter. If we can manage for a week, normalcy can be restored," he stated.