No Disruption in Domestic LPG Supply, Says Government
Shillong, March 30: The supply of commercial LPG cylinders to Meghalaya has been increased to 70% of the normal quota, bringing relief to businesses affected by recent shortages, Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Saloni Verma said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Verma stated that the enhancement follows continuous negotiations and coordination with the Government of India, which has been reviewing stock positions across states. “Commercial LPG allocation is now enhanced to 70% of the regular quota for all states. This will improve the situation for tourism operators, dhabas, restaurants, and hotels,” she said.
The director informed that the Centre had earlier imposed a 20% cap on commercial LPG supply from March 11 due to disruptions in imports caused by tensions in the Middle East. Meghalaya, which requires around 1,000 commercial cylinders daily, saw arrivals drop sharply to 200–250 cylinders per day during the restriction period, leading to shortages across the hospitality sector.
However, essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions continued to receive full allocations.
Verma said the situation has been improving over the past few days. Between March 25 and 27, daily arrivals increased to 300–350 cylinders, while in the last three days, supplies have reached around 400 cylinders daily as the revised quota begins to take effect. She noted that it may take a few days for the enhanced allocation to fully reflect on the ground. “This is an ongoing situation, and we expect further improvement as the new allocation becomes fully effective,” she added.
On domestic LPG, the government clarified that there has been no disruption in supply. Before the crisis, Meghalaya received about 6,000–7,000 domestic cylinders daily. Since March 11, the state has continued to receive between 5,000 and 7,000 cylinders per day. Between March 25 and 27 alone, a total of 22,094 domestic cylinders were distributed across the state.
Addressing concerns over long queues at LPG distributors, Verma attributed the issue to the mandatory e-KYC process for obtaining the De-duplication Exercise Certificate required for new connections. She said oil companies are enforcing the measure to prevent hoarding and ensure fair distribution.
The director urged the public and media to avoid spreading misinformation or sensationalising the situation, warning that panic could worsen the crisis. “I request everyone to refrain from panic and misinformation. Sensational headlines will only cause distress to the public,” she said.
Verma further informed that both district-level and state-level LPG monitoring committees have been set up and are actively reviewing the situation. She added that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, is taking all necessary steps to manage the supply and ensure stability.
