Varanasi: Petroleum companies started distributing commercial cylinders to hospitals and institutions recommended by the district administration on Monday. However, they stuck to the norms — no refill bookings before 25 days in cities and 45 days in rural areas. Street food vendors were forced to shut shop due to the shortage of commercial and domestic cylinders, which are now slowly becoming available again. Street food vendors, who rely on cylinders from various sources, were seen struggling near distributor centres. Restaurants and dhabas that switched to LPG kitchens also couldn’t resume normal services, struggling to get cylinders. District supply officer Krishna Ballabh Singh said they are addressing the LPG shortage by prioritizing supplies to essential places like temples, mutts, ashrams, gurukuls, hospitals, colleges, orphanages and old age homes, where bulk cooking takes place. Commercial and domestic cylinders are being supplied to these categories, he added.“The process has begun to connect institutions near operational PNG lines, and for others, estimates are being worked out to extend PNG lines to their locations,” he added.Indane’s senior official Satish Yadav said that distribution of commercial cylinders was done to the listed institutions, especially hospitals, on Monday. These supplies will go according to the list being finalised and updated by the district administration, he said. For domestic LPG, distribution is going smoothly – once you book a refill, distributors deliver within 2-3 days, he added.
