Will discuss LPG shortage during Cabinet meeting: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said the government will take up the issue of LPG shortage in the Cabinet meeting, while urging the Centre to immediately address supply disruptions that are affecting households and farmers.
In the wake of the US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East, the state is facing LPG refill crisis.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said the shortage of LPG supply was causing hardship to the public, particularly in rural areas, and insisted that the matter needed urgent attention at the highest level.
"Today there is some issue with gas supply; gas is not available. This is causing problems for everyone. I had said this yesterday as well and the day before, but the (BJP) MPs are not speaking about it," he said.
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Shivakumar said the Centre must act immediately to resolve the problem and ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG, warning that people in villages might be forced to revert to firewood if the situation persists.
"They should find a solution today itself and supply LPG. Otherwise, if gas is not available in the villages, then our farmers will have to use firewood as an alternative. They say people should not use firewood and declare things as 'firewood-free,' but people are compelled to make such decisions," he said.
He also criticised the union government over rising LPG prices.
"In any case, the central government is not reducing gas prices. Petrol and diesel prices (international level) are increasing, and the prices of all commodities are rising. People are struggling. So the Centre itself must respond to this. The state government alone cannot bring about this change," he said.
Shivakumar further urged BJP Members of Parliament from the state to raise the issue in Parliament and ensure that Karnataka receives fair treatment from the Centre.
"The MPs speak on various issues, but first they should raise this matter in Parliament and ensure justice for our state. We condemn the approach of the central government," he said.
Stressing that access to cooking fuel was essential for households, he said uncertainty over supplies could create further difficulties.
"First, people must have all the facilities needed for food. In the coming days, we do not know what situation may arise," he said, adding that the suspension of several gas-run vehicles earlier had also created complications.
"All these are creating problems. So today we have a Cabinet meeting, and this issue should be decided in the Cabinet," he added.
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Some hotels switch to alternative methods to cook; panic buying of fuel subsides
Chennai (PTI): A section of hotels and restaurants operating in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu have commenced using alternative methods to keep the business running in view of the commercial LPG shortage, officials said.
Some of the alternative methods of cooking that hoteliers said they were adopting include induction stoves and firewood. They said they adopt these methods in addition to the tweaking of menus in order to minimise LPG usage.
A top official of a city-based popular restaurant chain told PTI, "We have moved to using induction stoves. Most of our branches are using this facility now, as we have adequate infrastructure to prepare the food on the induction stoves".
Asked whether food prices would increase as induction stoves consume electricity, he replied in the negative, stating, "We are not increasing the prices. Currently, we are running our operations instead of shutting down."
A representative of Tamil Nadu Hotels' Association said that since kitchens of most of the hotels are constructed in such a way that they can use only LPG, not firewood.
"Those who have the facility to use firewood or induction may run their business. But most of them do not have that comfort. Second, using firewood also leads to air pollution," the official said.
Meanwhile, industry sources said fuel pumps are slowly getting back to normalcy as people have stopped panic buying of petrol and diesel.
"Over the last two days, there was panic buying, many ignored appeals and stood in queues for more than 2 hours to get their tank filled. Since there was a huge demand, existing stock dried up, and we were forced to shut." Gopi Bhaktavatchalam, an IndianOil dealer in Ashok Nagar in Chennai, told PTI.
"I have been individually appealing to the people not to fall for this panic buying, as it was spreading across the country. We are not Pakistan, where fuel outlets go dry due to a shortage. We are Indians, and our Hon'ble Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had told us that we have adequate reserves for 70 days. Despite such an assurance given by the government, people thronged fuel outlets. As a retail outlet, we were unable to meet the huge demand," he said.
For Saturday, he said the oil major has supplied inventory, and gradually the situation is 'returning to normalcy'. "People have realised that they fell into the trap of panic buying. Situation is returning to normalcy."
He continued: "Yesterday alone, this outlet sold more than 50 per cent higher than our usual daily sales".
Meanwhile, in a notification to fuel pump dealers, IndianOil Corporation directed its fuel outlets to avoid filling petrol and diesel in "bottles and containers."
"Under the Petroleum Act of 1934, Retail Outlets are typically only licensed to dispense fuel directly into vehicle tanks or approved specialised containers. Selling in loose bottles is a violation that can lead to serious violations and endanger public safety," the notification said.
Plastic bottles and other containers can be dissolved or made brittle by petrol, leading to leaks, spills and dangerous chemical reactions, it said. "Guidelines and restrictions are also in place to prevent the misuse of fuel for antisocial activities or criminal acts," it added.
