Amid concerns over a possible cooking gas shortage linked to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday held a meeting with gas dealers and oil company representatives and advised them not to export the gas currently stored in West Bengal to other states.
The Chief Minister said the conflict has already begun affecting the supply and price of LPG cylinders, creating panic among common people. She warned that if the available stock in the state is sent outside, the situation could worsen for households and small businesses dependent on cooking gas.
According to administrative sources, Mamata will hold an emergency meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Thursday to review the gas supply situation. Officials from the concerned departments are expected to attend the meeting, where discussions will focus on ensuring uninterrupted supply and reducing difficulties faced by the public.
Before the meeting, the Chief Minister held discussions with several oil companies and LPG distributors. During the interaction, she advised dealers to temporarily avoid sending stored LPG cylinders outside the state to tackle the sudden supply pressure. The government is also planning to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) or guidelines after consultations with dealers.
Gas distributors, however, assured the state government that essential services would not face shortages. They said supply would continue for health centres, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Integrated Child Development Services centres.
Mamata also criticised the central government over the introduction of a 25-day gap rule for LPG booking. She alleged that the rule was implemented without proper preparation or alternative arrangements, which has increased anxiety among consumers.
The Chief Minister stressed that uninterrupted gas supply is crucial not only for households but also for auto drivers, small eateries, ICDS centres and the mid-day meal programme that depend on LPG for daily operations.
She urged the Centre to take immediate steps to prevent disruptions in these essential services. At the same time, Mamata said the state government would explore possible alternatives to ensure that people do not suffer due to the shortage.
Raising the issue of governance priorities, she also remarked that instead of focusing on people’s daily needs, attention was being diverted to other matters related to elections.
Mamata further pointed out that the responsibility for supplying LPG lies with the Union government and alleged that the current situation has arisen due to flawed policies of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
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