West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Addresses LPG Supply Crisis
In a high-level meeting held on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured that LPG supplies to critical sectors including healthcare facilities, ICDS centres, midday meal kitchens, and tourism will remain uninterrupted. She urged suppliers to prioritize local demands in Bengal, squarely blaming the central government for the ongoing LPG supply situation.
Meeting with Officials and Dealers
The Chief Minister convened a meeting with top state officials, representatives from Indian Oil, and LPG dealers to assess the stock levels at key refineries in Haldia, Kalyani, and Durgapur. During the discussions, she was informed that there are no immediate concerns regarding petrol and diesel stocks, but LPG availability has become a pressing issue.
"They assured us that there will be no crisis in the healthcare sector, for midday meal programmes or ICDS centres. They have been instructed to keep supply normal and they have agreed," Banerjee stated while speaking to reporters after the meeting.
Addressing Public Panic and Supply Chain Issues
Banerjee acknowledged the widespread panic among residents following announcements of potential 25-day waiting periods for LPG cylinders. "No one should panic unnecessarily. I will hold a virtual meeting with districts on Thursday. It's true that there is panic among people. They are worried about what if they run out of gas today — that they would have to wait 25 days. This is a real cause for concern," she emphasized.
Dealers reported a significant surge in demand, with inquiries jumping from two lakh to six lakh after the waiting period announcement was made. The CM also addressed complaints about dealers not responding to consumer calls, attributing it to a telecommunication server breakdown.
Measures to Ensure Transparency and Prevent Hoarding
To streamline the supply chain, the administration has proposed creating a green channel for cylinder distribution. "I requested them to enhance coordination with the state government. There should be transparency in terms of stocks, supply capacity and actual supply," Banerjee added.
Gas distribution agencies have been directed to appoint a nodal officer for every district to monitor orders, assess needs, and curb hoarding activities. "If someone is found hoarding, the government will initiate seizures," the Chief Minister warned.
Criticism of Central Government and Additional Recommendations
Banerjee strongly criticized the central government, accusing it of mishandling reserves before imposing restrictions due to the fallout from international conflicts. "The government of India is responsible for this situation. Why did it announce that gas would not be available for 25 days? The announcement led to this situation," she asserted.
She questioned the reliance on external factors, asking, "Don't just blame the war. Doesn't India have sufficient gas supply?" Banerjee also highlighted the need for better planning before invoking measures like the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
In addition to LPG, she called for boosting kerosene reserves until imports recover, noting that people currently receive only 25% of their previous ration allocations. "Kerosene should be made available in the market and the limit of subsidised kerosene in ration should be increased to 50%," she recommended.
State Government's Willingness to Assist
Despite financial constraints, Banerjee expressed the state government's readiness to provide subsidy-based assistance to consumers. However, she cautioned that such measures would be ineffective if LPG remains unavailable. "But that won't help much if gas isn't available," she concluded, underscoring the urgency of resolving the supply crisis.
