Panic over LPG supply begins to hit Bodh Gaya hospitality sector

Gaya: Even as the Gaya administration struggles to contain what officials describe as “fuelled panic”, the Bodh Gaya-based hospitality sector has begun to feel the impact with restaurants facing closure or curtailing their activities. Adding to the concerns, reports of students studying outside the state returning home due to the closure of hostel mess facilities have further heightened anxiety among LPG users.

There are 7,90,941 registered LPG consumers in the district and 67 distributors. Of these, 27 are Bharat Petroleum dealers catering to the requirements of LPG consumers. Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum have 24 and 16 agencies, respectively.




DM Shashank Shubhankar, while asserting that there is adequate availability of LPG, has cautioned consumers against panic buying. A helpline number has also been activated by the district administration to address the concerns of LPG users and to find real-time solutions.

Apprehensions of hoarding, black marketing and panic buying have made the situation more worrying. According to a BP vendor, people are resorting to panic buying and many users are offering as much as Rs 3000 for the 14.2 kg cylinder officially priced at Rs 1010 (Friday price).

According to the DM, although he was not aware of students returning from other states due to hostel or mess closures, even if they had returned it would not be a cause for concern as they would stay with their family members and home delivery of LPG would be ensured for genuine consumers.

Pramod Kumar, owner of a leading confectionery brand with five outlets in Gaya town and three in Patna, said he was ready with a backup plan and had already begun the process of reviving traditional tandoors that use wood as fuel. The option of using induction stoves was also being considered if the scarcity of commercial LPG cylinders continues. Kumar, however, denied reports that production of some confectioneries requiring additional fuel had been stopped or curtailed.

Bihar Rajya Mistan Bhojan Nirmata-Vikreta Sangh president Lalji Prasad said the LPG scarcity has affected nearly 60 major makers of “dalmot” (mixtures) and other snacks in Gaya district.

Hotel Association Bodh Gaya president Jai Singh said restaurants may face closure if the LPG supply position does not improve within the next couple of days. Bodh Gaya Nagar Vikas Manch convener Suresh Singh said the fresh foreign tourist footfall has come to a near standstill in the wake of the West Asia crisis and fears of disruption in restaurant services.

As of now, there are about 4,000 foreign tourists in Bodh Gaya against the usual figure of around 10,000 in mid-March. Vietnamese tourists and pilgrims normally visit in large numbers in March but at present very few Vietnamese visitors can be seen, Singh said.