Bengaluru, March 23 (NationPress) The Karnataka High Court has officially closed a writ petition brought forth by the Bangalore Hotel Association, which sought an increase in the availability of commercial LPG cylinders. The court noted that the Centre has already implemented necessary measures and deemed that no further actions were warranted.

A bench led by Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum delivered the ruling after considering the arguments from both the hotel association and the Central government, stating there was no basis to doubt the assurances provided by the Centre regarding LPG distribution.

The court emphasized its inability to intervene in policy matters, particularly given the current global circumstances, and subsequently chose not to direct the Centre.

During the proceedings, K. Satish Bhat, counsel for the association, claimed that there was an imbalance in LPG distribution, highlighting that Tamil Nadu received approximately 8,500 cylinders while Kerala got around 4,200, in stark contrast to Karnataka's supply of merely 1,000 cylinders for hotels. He insisted that guidelines for distribution were not being adhered to.

In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that while the Central government is undertaking diplomatic initiatives, control over oil and gas supplies is not absolute. He remarked that the LPG supply situation is fluid and subject to daily changes, with the government actively working on improving allocations.

The court acknowledged that India does not produce enough crude oil or LPG domestically and pointed out that global supply challenges, especially due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, have influenced availability. It concluded that the situation in India is comparatively better than in numerous other nations, leading to the dismissal of the petition submitted by the Bangalore Hotel Association.

In a positive development for hotel proprietors, the Karnataka government announced an increase in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, adding an additional 1,000 to the current distribution.

After a discussion with gas companies and hotel association representatives in Bengaluru, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa revealed that the total number of commercial cylinders allocated in the state would rise to 10,000. This adjustment is aimed at addressing supply issues and ensuring more efficient distribution across various sectors.

Muniyappa further indicated that commercial gas users would now be required to register with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). He reminded users that they have one week to finish the registration process, failing which access to commercial gas supply would be denied. This measure is designed to prevent discrepancies and monitor usage effectively.

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the Central government has intensified oversight of potential repercussions for India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi convening an emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet on Sunday night. The discussions involved senior ministers and top officials focusing on the supply of essential commodities, ensuring food security, and protecting critical economic sectors. A high-level team, including Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi, has been established to manage the circumstances.