| | MARCH 202619In response, the government has instructed oil refineries to ramp up production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The recent hike in the price of LPG cylinders is linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the US, which has led to disruptions in important energy shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz.Bengaluru Restaurants Face Closure Amid LPG ShortagesIn Bengaluru, a few restaurants and dining outlets, mainly located in the central business area of the city, have reduced their services. The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Owners Association announced on Monday that they would close down all restaurants in the city in case the delivery of commercial gas cylinders is disrupted. P C Rao, who leads the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Owners Association, stated that eateries were facing issues with the delivery of commercial cylinders and called upon the government to step in and address the supply problem. He mentioned that approximately 25-30 hotels in the urban area were impacted after the gas supply was halted by suppliers on the morning of Monday.Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, sent a letter to the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to address the issue so that businesses can operate smoothly. Additionally, Tejasvi Surya, the MP for Bengaluru South, also contacted Puri regarding the same issue.Hotels and Eateries Call on PM to Resolve LPG ShortageIn Tamil Nadu, hotels and restaurants are also experiencing a shortage of commercial LPG supplies. To save fuel, some restaurants have started serving fewer dishes."The food industry works on a 24 x 7 basis for many hospitals who require the food to be supplied on time besides IT Parks, students at college hostels, train and business travellers will all be affected, if the supply of commercial LPG is hindered," association's president M Ravi said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi."There are also banquet bookings undertaken by many star hotels and restaurants which will also be affected. The short supply of commercial LPG to the food industry will also hinder the dependence of the large public across Tamil Nadu," he said.He urged the Prime Minister to ensure a continuous provision of commercial LPG for the food industry.Mumbai Hotels Cut Menus, Hours Amid LPG ShortagesIn Mumbai about 20 percent of hotels and restaurants allegedly had to close due to a lack of commercial LPG cylinders. Famous dining spots in Dadar, Andheri, and Matunga are already making changes to their menus by eliminating slow-cooked dishes such as Dal Makhani and Rava Dosa. Additionally, they are cutting back on their operating hours in order to save the limited gas supply they have left. The FHRAI, which represents the hotel and restaurant industry, raised concerns about the lack of availability of commercial cooking gas cylinders. It raised concerns to Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, about the extensive disruption happening at the grassroots level. The FHRAI reported that numerous suppliers are holding back supplies, claiming a directive from the government dated March 5th.Restaurants in Delhi-NCR Modify Operations Amid Gas ShortagesRestaurants in the Delhi-NCR region are making efforts to adjust promptly. According to Varun Khera, who leads the Noida division of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), numerous eateries are decreasing their reliance on gas.Distributors' Confusion Deepens LPG Crisis for Indian EateriesPradeep Shetty, who serves as the vice president of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and acts as the spokesperson for the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India), noted an increase in the scarcity of goods, attributing it to distributors being confused by recent government announcements.Oil Ministry Takes Action to Stabilize LPG AvailabilityThe Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas announced that they have instructed oil refineries to increase their production of LPG and allocate the additional supply for domestic use.A new 25-day waiting period was implemented to prevent hoarding and black market activities. In addition, the authorities have utilized the Essential Commodities Act to guarantee a continuous availability of household cooking gas, instructing refineries and petrochemical plants to increase LPG production and allocate important hydrocarbon resources to the LPG supply.Authorities have instructed oil marketing companies to give preference to providing domestic LPG connections over commercial users, stating that household consumers will be given utmost importance. The oil ministry has formed a group of three OMC executive directors to assess and consider applications for LPG distribution to establishments like restaurants, hotels, and other commercial sectors.
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