Guwahati: The city’s restaurants are grappling with a dual crisis as a shortage of LPG cylinder stock, coupled with a recent hike in the price of 19kg commercial cylinders, continue to strain daily operations. Small and mid-sized eateries, already operating on thin margins, say the situation has become increasingly unsustainable.According to the Indian Oil Company Limited, currently the price of a 19kg commercial LPG costs Rs 2,299, which was earlier Rs 2,081, in March.“I have reduced the timings of my shop. I close my shop after the first half, as I am just limiting the usage, so that it can sustain for a few more days. If the situation continues like this, it will become very difficult for us to operate. Switching to firewood is not only inconvenient but also affects the quality and consistency of the food…. if the supply of commercial cylinders is not regularised soon, we may be left with no option but to temporarily shut down our establishments.” said Rupam Deowri, a small-time food stall owner.Gitanjali Das, another restaurant owner, said, “We are already on low fuel, we have no other options to close down.”Meanwhile, taking to ‘X’, the petroleum and natural gas ministry said, “Prices of Commercial LPG cylinders, used by industries and hotels, are deregulated, market determined and revised normally on a monthly basis. Their consumption is less than 10% of the total LPG consumed in the country. April 1 price increase in commercial cylinder price is due to a 44% surge in the Saudi Contract Price: from $542/MT in March to $780/MT for April, as 20-30% of global LPG supplies are stuck in Strait of Hormuz.”
