Says keeping in touch with Centre regarding supply
MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House that the State currently has an adequate stock of LPG cylinders for the next 15 days and that there was no immediate cause for alarm.
Sawant said the government was closely monitoring the situation and remained in touch with the Centre regarding supply.
Fears of a possible shortage of LPG cylinders in Goa triggered concern among households and businesses alike, prompting Saligao MLA Kedar Naik to raise the issue in the Goa Legislative Assembly and seek urgent intervention from the government.
Sawant informed the Assembly that the Government of India has constituted a committee to assess the availability and distribution of LPG cylinders across the country in light of emerging supply concerns.
“I have spoken to the petroleum minister. The Centre has requested every State to submit a detailed report on the current stock position of LPG cylinders,” Sawant said, adding that Goa has been asked to furnish its status to help the Centre review the supply chain and take necessary measures.
Raising the matter during the session, Naik drew attention to the difficulties being faced by residents and small businesses due to the sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders reported in parts of the State.
He said the issue had particularly affected small entrepreneurs and sectors that rely heavily on LPG for daily operations.
Naik also pointed out that fishing trawlers venturing into deep sea and several small-scale commercial establishments have expressed concern about the uncertainty surrounding supplies.
The hospitality sector, he said, has sounded an alarm over the situation, with restaurant associations warning that many eateries may be forced to suspend operations within days if supplies are not restored in time.
“In view of the seriousness of the matter, the government must take urgent steps to ensure adequate supply of commercial LPG cylinders so that businesses are not forced to shut down,” Naik said while urging the government to act swiftly.
In what appeared to be a panic response, people were seen queuing up at several LPG dealer outlets in Mapusa to book or purchase domestic gas cylinders.
Meanwhile, the government has revised the booking interval for LPG cylinders, stating that consumers can now place a new booking only after 25 days, compared to the earlier 15-day gap.
The concerns come amid wider global supply anxieties linked to rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
