LPG Crisis: HRAEI Concerns & Livelihood Impact

Patna, Mar 10 (PTI) Expressing concern over the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) said the crisis was creating difficulties for operations.

HRAEI said the LPG crisis would affect the livelihoods of people dependent on the sector.

"It is disturbing for people working in and running small eateries in eastern states, including Bihar. Many people are entirely dependent on small eateries for their livelihood there. They are facing a lot of difficulty," Shreya De, Assistant Manager (Marketing & PR) of HRAEI, told PTI.

"The situation in West Asia is alarming. I do not know how long this will go on, but what is certain is that normal people and businesses are having a tough time," she said, urging the government to take action.

Amid the West Asia crisis, the government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas, placing LPG production alongside CNG and piped cooking gas at the top. This has led to a supply crunch for hotels and restaurants, which use market-priced commercial LPG.


An official of the Hotel Pataliputra Continental in Patna said the crisis will adversely affect operations.

"The number of commercial cylinders used depends on the influx of customers or guests. It is not something in our control," said Chandan, an official of the hotel.

An official of a hotel in the city's Exhibition Road area said the sector is already facing supply shortages.

"Price hike is one thing, and acute shortage of supplies is another. I fear we are going to have a shortfall in the immediate future. We ordered several cylinders on Monday, and could get only half of them," he said.

Alternative arrangements are being made in case the shortage continues, he said.

"We have brought 20 sacks of coal on Tuesday morning, so that we can at least have arrangements for our staff in case of acute shortages of LPG cylinders," he said.