Bengaluru, 12 March

The LPG supply scarcity in Karnataka has led to apprehension about the continuity of the Indira Canteens in the City, sources in the municipal body said on Thursday.

Indira Canteens are the Congress government’s flagship initiatives which were started by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his previous stint from 2013 to 2018. There are about 180 Indira canteens in the City, which were built to feed the urban poor at a highly subsidised price. They offer breakfast at Rs 5 and meals for Rs 10.

The vendors of the Indira Canteen told the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials that their services may be affected if the LPG crisis caused by the Isael-US-Iran war continues in the State, GBA sources said.

"These vendors had come to us and communicated their hardship. Accordingly, we wrote to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department asking them to restore it. Today also we raised the issue with the government," a GBA official said. He hoped the functioning of the canteens wouldn’t be affected because there are many urban poor who are entirely dependent on them.

RUM DISTILLERY SHUTS

India's first premium craft rum made from jaggery has temporarily shut its operations after failing to procure gas for its boilers, Aruna Urs said.

Urs, the founder of the distillery that produces Huli Spirits -- touted as India's first premium craft rum made from jaggery --announced the development on Thursday on X.

“We had a public and a private supplier, and both managers categorically stated that the order from above is to only refill domestic canisters," he added. Urs, however, did not mention how long the shutdown would continue.

The premium, single-origin jaggery-based rum is produced at a micro-distillery located in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district.

As a result, many restaurants, hotels and catering services have either shut their kitchens or are operating under strain using the limited stocks available.  Bengaluru’s landmark Vidyarti Bhavan has reportedly been staring at a shutdown. It has begun offering more limited menus.

Kolar faces difficulty booking LPG cylinders 

Consumers are rushing to the LPG dealers with empty cylinders but are made to return empty handed as bookings are not being taken manually, said Aslam Pasha a resident of Gowripet in Kolar. But authorities say that consumers are panicking over the shortage.

With Ugadi around the corner Ramadan ongoing, people are unwilling to take a chance amid the fuel shortage triggered by the West Asia war.

Prasad, a driver residing in Kurubarapet, said he has been trying to book a cylinder online, but was finding it difficult. 

Even the cylinder delivery boys are “not reachable,” said Prasad.  He added that his two children are going to write their PUC and SSLC exams and the family is finding it difficult to provide them proper food during the crucial time. 

Prasad said even eateries in his area are shut due to the shortage of gas.  

Kolar Deputy Commissioner Ravi MR conducted a review meeting on Thursday to assess the stock of fuel and gas cylinders, a source said. The district has sufficient stock to last for one week, the meeting was informed.

There are about 35 gasdealers in Kolar district. Authorities insist that the supply chain is normal. An official connected with the Food and Civil Supplies Department said that while the booking calls would typically be in the hundreds, currently calls are running into thousands.

“As such the IVRS lines are getting hanged causing inconvenience to consumers,” the official said.