Jaipur, Mar 11 (PTI) Disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders amid the West Asia crisis has begun to hit businesses across Rajasthan, where hotels, restaurants, factories, wedding caterers and tourism establishments have started facing difficulties in running daily operations.
While the Congress leaders hit out at the BJP government over the issue, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who chaired a review meeting, said gas supply for domestic consumers remains uninterrupted and normal in the state.
“The chief minister directed officials to continuously monitor the supply and stock position of domestic LPG cylinders and ensure that timely information is provided to the public,” an official said.
Domestic and commercial gas customers were seen rushing to gas agencies to secure cylinders. There is no fresh booking of commercial cylinders, which has hit various industries.
Industry representatives said the crisis has created uncertainty for sectors that depend heavily on liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Restaurant owners say the shortage is already affecting kitchens, while expenses on weddings are also set to increase due to the gas shortage.
An industry insider said nearly four lakh weddings are held in Rajasthan every year, with around 30,000 expected in April alone, and due to the shortage, the cost of a wedding could rise by Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.
“Running a restaurant has become difficult. We have to pay rent, salaries and other expenses, but without gas we cannot cook. Dishes like dal fry and many other items require continuous gas use,” a Jaipur-based restaurant operator, Pradeep Singh, said.
According to the Jaipur Catering Dealers Committee, the city has nearly 6,000 to 7,000 restaurants and dhabas that depend on commercial LPG cylinders. Additionally, several hostel kitchens, mess facilities and highway eateries also use commercial cylinders for daily cooking.
Operators of some eateries are considering switching to coal furnaces, diesel burners and electric induction cooktops due to supply uncertainty.
“We also handle catering orders where large quantities of food are prepared. Earlier, we used multiple cylinders, but now we may have to depend on coal furnaces,” a Jaipur-based caterer said.
“We only have cylinders for a day or two. After that, we will have to replace existing burners with small tandoors or coal-based setups,” another restaurant owner said.
The wedding industry is also worried as the disruption comes during an active wedding season. Ravi Jindal, president of Rajasthan Tent Dealers Association, said that the shortage could increase wedding expenses.
“The current wedding season continues till March 15 and will resume again after a month’s gap. Because of the LPG shortage, the cost of a wedding could rise by Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000,” he said.
Nearly four lakh weddings are held in Rajasthan every year, and around 30,000 are expected in April alone, Jindal said.
Manufacturing units are also beginning to feel the pressure, as many factories use LPG for welding, cutting and heating work. Alwar Trade Federation president Harmeet Singh said, “Factories depend on gas for welding and cutting work. If gas is not available, production will stop.” “If the international conflict continues and supplies remain affected, the situation for businesses could become serious,” Singh added.
Export-oriented industries are also facing difficulties. Rahul Gupta, a representative of Alwar Auto Component Manufacturing Society, said container freight has increased, and availability has reduced.
“We export to Brazil, the US and Turkey. If manufacturing slows due to gas shortages, finished goods will remain stuck, and exporters will have to bear losses,” he said.
Food processing businesses say demand from some West Asian markets has weakened due to the conflict.
Shashank, associated with the sector, said turmeric exports to Iraq, Iran and other countries in the region may be affected.
“The export season has started, but demand is almost zero from some markets because of the conflict. Traders have already stocked the produce. If exports do not take place, prices may fall, and heavy losses will be incurred,” he said.
In Jaipur’s Govindgarh industrial area, production at a crockery manufacturing unit of Borosil has allegedly stopped due to a disruption in LPG supply. Several women workers gathered outside the factory and alleged that the factory management had asked them not to come to work.
Tourism sector stakeholders are also watching the situation closely. In destinations like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, where hotels and restaurants serve a large number of visitors, the limited supply of commercial cylinders has raised concerns among business owners.
“Hotels and restaurants here depend completely on commercial LPG cylinders. If the supply remains low, it will become difficult to serve tourists properly,” restaurant operator Amit Bhatia said in Jaisalmer.
“If restaurants shut and tourists cannot find food, tourism will also suffer,” Rajesh Agrawal, a hotel owner in Udaipur, said.
He said that the crisis will not affect just one industry. “If businesses slow down, money circulation in the market will drop, and the wider economy will feel the impact,” Agrawal said The Congress leaders, meanwhile, expressed concern over the LPG crisis.
“The deepening crisis over the supply of cooking gas (LPG) in the country due to the war in Gulf nations is extremely worrying. It is unfortunate that the Modi government, as always, remains careless and insensitive even regarding this potential national crisis,” former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said.
The Centre’s inability to timely assess the situation is a clear “collective failure”, Gehlot said, while appealing to the people to use LPG and petrol-diesel responsibly in the current circumstances.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, Tikaram Jully, said the shortage of commercial cylinders and rising prices were affecting small traders and common people across the state.
“The increase of Rs 60 in the price of domestic LPG cylinders has already burdened households, while disruption in the supply of commercial cylinders is creating difficulties for businesses,” he said.
He also alleged that the situation had led to instances of black marketing of LPG cylinders in some places.
Taking a swipe at the state government, Jully said, “The state government must act to provide relief to people rather than waiting for directions from Delhi.” He said that the former Congress government in the state had provided LPG cylinders at subsidised rates through relief measures. PTI SDA OZ OZ
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