Shimla

Congress MLA Anuradha Rana on Friday attributed the reported LPG shortage to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, linking the crisis to disruptions in supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

She said a significant portion of India’s gas supply transits through this route, which has been impacted by the conflict involving Iran and Israel. While noting that two shipments had recently arrived following intervention by the central government, she warned that a prolonged conflict could worsen the situation.

Highlighting the ground reality in Himachal Pradesh, Rana said residents in Shimla and tribal regions were facing difficulties, with some households resorting to traditional cooking methods due to supply constraints, compounded by snowfall and challenging terrain.

She also criticised the existing refill policy, stating that the gap of 25 to 45 days between LPG refills in urban and rural areas is inequitable. According to her, the issue has been raised with the Centre to ensure uninterrupted supply, particularly in remote regions.

The matter was also discussed in the state Assembly, where meals for legislators and officials were reportedly prepared using wood-fired stoves by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation amid the shortage.

However, BJP leader Rakesh Jamwal downplayed the severity of the crisis, crediting the Union government’s efforts and stating that supply had not been significantly disrupted so far. He added that authorities are in touch with Iran and that additional shipments of oil and gas are expected.

State Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, on the other hand, acknowledged concerns over LPG availability, blaming central policies for the situation, though he said the shortage was not uniformly severe across the state.

Meanwhile, a senior chef associated with the tourism department said this was the first time in decades that they had to switch to wood-fired cooking due to gas shortages, adding that the additional cost of fuel would now have to be factored into expenses.

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The supply crunch, being felt across parts of the state and beyond, has prompted lawmakers to seek urgent measures, especially as adverse weather conditions threaten to further disrupt logistics in remote areas.