Ranchi LPG Supply Crisis Doubles Refill Prices, Forces Food Vendors to Shut Down
The ongoing disruption in LPG supply in Ranchi has created a severe crisis for households and small businesses, with refill prices for small cylinders nearly doubling and forcing many food vendors to temporarily close their establishments. The situation has escalated to the point where essential cooking fuel has become unaffordable for daily wage earners and small entrepreneurs.
Small Cylinder Refill Prices Skyrocket
Small LPG cylinders weighing 5 kg, which are typically refilled at local shops for approximately Rs 100 per kilogram, are now being charged at rates as high as Rs 200 per kilogram. This represents a 100% price increase that has placed tremendous financial strain on families who depend on these cylinders for their daily cooking needs.
Making matters worse, black market sellers have imposed restrictive caps, limiting refills to just 2 kg per cylinder. This means residents are paying inflated prices for less than half the normal quantity of cooking gas.
Ujjwala Yojana Beneficiaries Hit Hard
Phoolmani Mahato, a vegetable vendor and beneficiary of the Ujjwala Yojana scheme, expressed her frustration: "We are unable to get a refill for our 14 kg cylinder received under Ujjwala Yojana. When we went to a shop to refill our 5-kg cylinder, they said they would fill only 2 kg for Rs 400. It will not even last a week. We do not earn enough to pay such a high price."
The Ujjwala Yojana, designed to provide clean cooking fuel to economically disadvantaged households, has been undermined by this supply crisis, leaving beneficiaries with limited options for affordable cooking solutions.
Food Vendors Forced to Close Businesses
The crisis has particularly devastated small food vendors who rely on consistent LPG supply to operate their businesses. Rajani Oraon, who runs an eatery specializing in dhuska (a popular local dish), has been forced to temporarily shut down her establishment.
"We cook using a 5-kg cylinder and usually refill it every four to five days. Now most shops that refill cylinders are shut. The few that are open are charging double and filling lesser amount. The quantity is not enough to run my eatery. So I had no option but to shut it down for the time being," Oraon explained.
Coal Prices Also Surge Dramatically
As alternatives to LPG become increasingly necessary, the prices of other cooking fuels have also skyrocketed. Coal, traditionally used by many households as a backup cooking fuel, has seen its price double from Rs 300 to Rs 600 per sack.
Each sack contains approximately 5-6 kg of coal and typically lasts about four days when used for cooking twice daily. For daily wage earners like Lakshman Lohra, who works at a construction site and earns Rs 700 per day, this price increase makes cooking fuel unaffordable.
"Every Wednesday around five coal sellers come to our area on bicycles. Earlier they sold a sack for Rs 300, but now they are charging Rs 600. I am a daily wager earning Rs 700 per day. How can I afford coal to cook food?" Lohra questioned.
Official Response and Warning
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri has issued a stern warning against those involved in black-marketing or illegal storage of LPG cylinders. He announced that a zero-tolerance policy would be enforced under the Essential Commodities Act to combat price gouging and supply manipulation.
Bhajantri urged residents to report any instances of black-marketing or illegal activities through the 'Abua Sathi' helpline (9430328080) for immediate action. The administration has committed to taking strict measures against those exploiting the current supply disruption for personal gain.
The combination of doubled LPG refill prices, restrictive black market practices, and surging coal costs has created a perfect storm of cooking fuel unaffordability in Ranchi, disproportionately affecting low-income households and small business owners who are already struggling with economic challenges.
