Use cooking fuel judiciously, consumers told

An oil industry source said single bottle domestic consumers will be allowed to make fresh bookings only after 21 days from the date of last booking and those with double bottles can book only after 30 days. “Consumers can book only using their registered mobile numbers and delivery will be done only if the OTP is given. These are steps to ensure the fuel is used judiciously,” said a distributor.

Sources said commercial consumers using 19 kg cylinders were told they will not be given supplies. But after talks, existing customers were given a portion of their requirements. “Private gas companies do not have stocks. We hear supplies to industrial consumers were being stopped,” a source said.

Hoteliers in Tamil Nadu say this could cripple their business. They fear distributors may cite shortages to divert supplies to the black market or increase prices, raising operating costs for restaurants and hotels.

“They have slowed the supply of LPG for commercial purposes. From next week, we don’t know how we will run our business. Distributors say they don’t have any stock,” said D. Sreenivasan, owner of the Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels, Coimbatore and Honorary President of Tamil Nadu Hotel Association.

“Many who are working and living in hostels depend on restaurants for their day-to-day food. Even the hospital sector depends on us for food for patients,” added Jegan Damodarasamy, CEO of Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels.