LPG shortage: About 20% of hotel industry needs will be met daily with immediate effect, announces Karnataka Minister

In what could ease the commercial LPG shortage for educational institutions and hotels, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa on Monday (March 23, 2026) said that the government would be able to supply 20% of the daily needs of the hotel industry with immediate effect.

Urging the hotel industry to make some adjustments in the light of shortage of commercial cylinders, he said, “On an average, about 45,000 commercial cylinders were being used by hotels in the State. Following discussion with oil marketing companies today (Monday), it has been decided that about 10,000 commercial cylinders can be supplied to the hotel industry.”

Current supply

The current supply of 1,000 commercial cylinders was not of much help, the Minister said. He also said that in the light of these experiences, there is a need to look at sustainable energy sources, including solar and biomass, in future.

The Minister in a statement to the Legislative Council said that, in all, the Centre has approved supply of about 16,105 commercial cylinders daily. “About 4,200 cylinders will be supplied to educational institutions, 1,200 cylinders to public sector undertakings, 500 to agriculture and allied activities. About 200 cylinders will be reserved for emergency uses. As many as 10,000 cylinders will be given to hotels, industrial canteens, restaurants and dhabas among others,” he added.

Letter to Centre

Mr. Muniyappa said that after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, the State government has received a communication from them. A meeting with OMCs representatives on the overall commercial cylinder supply was also held on Monday, he added.

He also urged people to register with GAIL for supply of piped gas. “GAIL has five lakh families in its network. They need to know the demand to increase the connection for piped gas. The registration has to be done in a week’s time, and details would be shared later.”

Warning people against pressurising the distributors for cylinders, he said that booking period for cylinders in urban and rural areas continues to stay at 25 days and 45 days, respectively.