LPG shortage effect: Closely monitoring the situation, says IPL GC Chair Arun Dhumal
CHENNAI: A day after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a statement on social media saying that LPG supply to domestic and essential non-domestic sectors is being prioritised due to fuel supply constraints, Indian Premier League Governing Council Chairperson Arun Dhumal said the league is monitoring the evolving situation closely.
With the US-Israel-Iran war in West Asia continuing to escalate, the supply of petroleum and LPG products has taken a hit. Over the last couple of days, hotel owner associations in both Bengaluru and Chennai have said they have LPG supply for a day or two. Several hotels have already started to restrict the menu to optimise thIPL GC Chairperson Dhumal said that the league is keeping a close eye on the developing situation. “We are reviewing the development. Since this is a evolving situation, nothing can be said as of now. But given the requirement of the situation, we will take a call accordingly,” Dhumal told The New Indian Express.
Though the schedule is yet to be announced, the board is working out the nitty-gritty details to avoid clashing with the election in several states, and the tournament is set to start on March 28. However, if this ongoing situation persists, the BCCI and IPL may have to make a call as it will affect not just the league but people from all walks of life, Apart from the LPG supply, logistics will also be a challenge as it was seen during the recently concluded T20 World Cup, which India won. Several teams, including Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa, could not leave India immideately because of the ongoing war in West Asia and the flight routes to their respective countries.
Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use. “The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Nondomestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions. For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three EDs of OMCs have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries,” Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated on Monday night.