Varanasi/Sultanpur, March 14 The distribution of prasad at the Annapurna temple in Varanasi has been affected due to a perceived shortage of LPG cylinders, even as authorities in Uttar Pradesh reiterated that there is no supply shortage and warned of strict action against hoarding and black marketing.
Mahant Shankar Giri Maharaj claimed that the temple's 'ann kshetra' (food area) is facing a severe shortage of cooking gas, making it difficult to prepare the prasad for devotees.
"Earlier, gas agencies used to supply one or two cylinders, but that too has stopped in the last two to three days," he said, adding that one of the temple's two cooking units has shut down since Saturday morning, while the other is on the verge of closure.
The temple used to distribute prasad to around 20,000 to 25,000 devotees daily, but on Saturday, they could only accommodate about 3,000 people, Maharaj claimed, adding that officials have assured him of a supply, but the cylinders have yet to arrive at the temple.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh minister Ravindra Jaiswal and Varanasi District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar held a meeting to review LPG supply in the city.
After the meeting, the district magistrate said that there was no shortage of LPG in Varanasi and added that the temple management had not raised the issue in a meeting held on Friday. DM Kumar assured that LPG cylinders would be provided to the temple soon and warned that the administration is monitoring those spreading rumors about shortages.
Jaiswal emphasised that panic buying triggered by rumors of LPG scarcity has led many consumers to stockpile spare cylinders, temporarily creating supply issues.
He noted that around 1.55 lakh households in the city have been connected to the city gas pipeline, and residents can obtain a pipeline gas connection within a week of applying. Two helpline numbers have also been issued for assistance.
Amid these concerns, authorities have increased monitoring of LPG distribution across districts and cautioned against hoarding and black marketing.
In Sultanpur district, officials seized 44 LPG cylinders during a raid on the premises of an LPG agency proprietor on Saturday, following allegations of black marketing. Acting on the directions of District Magistrate Kumar Harsh, a joint team of the supply department and police conducted the raid at the proprietor's house in Dostpur.
Supply Inspector Jitendra Singh said that six large filled cylinders, two small filled cylinders, and 36 empty cylinders were recovered during the raid.
Police have registered a case against Manish Kumar and Rajan Gautam in connection with the alleged illegal storage and sale of cylinders, officials said.
Authorities said that a drive is being conducted across districts to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders, warning that strict action will be taken against violators. They reiterated that there is no shortage of LPG or other petroleum products in the state.
In Bulandshahr district, rising gas prices are also impacting the pottery industry in Khurja, known for its ceramic pottery. Industry representatives indicated that many units are struggling to operate due to the sharp increase in fuel costs.
President of the Khurja Pottery Manufacturers Association Ravi Rana said the price of LPG has increased from around Rs 69 per kg to nearly Rs 93 per kg. Similarly, the price of piped natural gas (PNG) has risen from about Rs 49 per standard cubic metre to around Rs 119.90, he said.
Rana said the steep rise in gas prices has made it difficult for many units to continue operations, and several are on the verge of closure. He warned that if work dries up, migrant labourers from states such as Bihar and West Bengal, employed in these units, may be forced to return to their native places.
Meanwhile, in the Khurja area of Bulandshahr, a joint team of the administration and the supply department conducted a raid at a gas agency in the Agoura Amirpur area and recovered around 1,000 commercial LPG cylinders, officials said.
Only 14 cylinders were found filled, while the rest were empty. Additionally, 32 refilling devices and three pipes used for transferring gas from one cylinder to another were seized. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pratiksha Pandey stated that an FIR would be registered under the Essential Commodities Act.