"What About Common People?" MLC Ivan D’Souza Flags Severe Commercial Gas Crisis

Karnataka is facing a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, affecting hotels, government canteens, and even the Legislators’ House, Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza highlighted in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. He noted that breakfast items such as idlis, dosas, and ambode were unavailable for lawmakers, raising concerns about the wider impact on the public.

“If legislators themselves are not getting food at the Legislators’ House, what about the common people?” D’Souza asked, underlining the gravity of the situation. He added that nearly 50 percent of hotels across the state have reportedly shut down due to the shortage, leaving many residents without access to breakfast. Government-run Indira Canteens, which serve subsidised meals, are also struggling to operate.

D’Souza urged the state government to engage with hotel owners and other stakeholders to assess the ground situation and find solutions. In response, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa acknowledged the problem and said the government was attempting to manage the limited supply. He added that commercial cylinders would be supplied to the Legislators’ House to meet about half of their demand during the ongoing Assembly session.

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Hotel industry representatives have also raised concerns about Karnataka receiving disproportionately low supplies compared to other states. P.C. Rao, Honorary President of the Bengaluru Hotel Owners’ Association, stated that states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh are receiving a higher proportion of their commercial LPG requirements, allowing hotels there to continue operations, albeit with reduced menus or timings.

Rao pointed out that Bengaluru alone has around 35,000 hotels, and even if 30,000 commercial cylinders are supplied monthly, it would be insufficient to meet basic cooking needs. He noted that, unlike Karnataka, other states have not shut down hotels completely and continue partial operations despite scarcity.

The shortage has sparked calls for government intervention and verification of supply allocations. Rao confirmed that representatives are collecting data and that further details would be presented in court next week. Meanwhile, the state government continues to manage the limited supply of commercial LPG cylinders amid growing public and industry concern.

Also Read: Centre Launches Panel To Crush Commercial LPG Supply Shortage