Shimla, March 25 The crisis caused by the conflict in West Asia has led to a 30-35 per cent increase in bookings for LPG refills this month compared to February, a state official said on Wednesday.
There were 9,500 LPG bookings on a single day in February, which has increased by 30-35 per cent in March, said Mohammad Amid, the divisional sales head of Indian Oil Corporation, attributing the rise to a panic caused by a shortage.
According to the data, 3,86,867 deliveries were made in the first 15 days of February, compared to 4,82,341 bookings, a difference of 95,574.
However, in the first half of March, 3,16,926 deliveries were made against 6,45,388 bookings, a difference of 3,28,462.
Amid insisted that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders, and that all 12 districts are being served by plants in Baddi, Una, and Jalandhar.
He said that rationing is in place for commercial LPG cylinders, with 20 per cent of demand being met, which will now be increased to 40-50 per cent.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that supplies have been disrupted due to the conflict in West Asia and blamed India's foreign policy for the crisis.
"The impact of strained relations with friendly nations like Iran is evident in the current situation," he said.
Several dhaba owners have been forced to shut down their establishments; hotels and restaurants have cut their menus, he said.
The LPG crisis has led to the re-emergence of traditional cooking stoves, such as those found in Hotel Holiday Home, or HHH, the official caterer to the Vidhan Sabha.