PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A serious shortage of commercial cylinders has been reported in Dehradun, while the stock of domestic LPG cylinders remains sufficient. Many restaurant owners in the city say that their stock of commercial cylinders has run out and gas agencies have refused to supply them. This situation is being linked to the impact of conflict between Iran and US/Israel.
“There is some shortage of commercial cylinders which is causing problems. Our first priority will be hospitals and student hostels. We will supply cylinders there first. After that, we will provide cylinders to restaurants and hotels,” said district supply officer KK Aggarwal. He also said that earlier cylinders could be booked every 21 days, but now the period has been increased to 25 days. He added that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders and their supply is adequate. However, the price of domestic cylinders has increased by Rs 60, taking the new price to Rs 932.
Meanwhile, Chaman Lal, president of gas agency association of Uttarakhand said that commercial cylinders are not available at all. Because of this shortage, four to five restaurants in Dehradun have shut down. Restaurant owners say that they need cylinders frequently but there is no stock available. He said that since morning, so many phone calls have been received that it has become difficult to respond to all of them.
Some restaurants have only one day of stock left and are facing problems in getting commercial gas cylinders. One restaurant owner on Rajpur Road said that they are regularly contacting gas agencies, but the agencies have refused to provide commercial cylinders. They said that commercial cylinders are currently not available. He added that there is no shortage of domestic cylinders, but commercial cylinders are not being supplied. “We are facing serious problems. If our stock finishes, we will have to close the restaurant,” he said.
Due to the shortage of commercial cylinders, prices in the black market have also increased in the city. A restaurant owner claimed that a commercial cylinder is being sold for up to Rs 3,000 in the black market, even though its official price is Rs 1,940.
