Ranchi LPG Crisis: Cylinder Refill Prices Double, Impacting Households & Vendors

Ranchi: The ongoing LPG supply disruption has lead to nearly doubling of rates of refilling small cylinders, making it difficult for many households and small food vendors.Small LPG cylinders weighing 5 kg are usually refilled at local shops for around Rs 100 per kg.

However, residents said they are being charged as high as Rs 200 per kg. In the black market, sellers have imposed cap of 2 kg per refill.“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,” said Phoolmani Mahato, a vegetable vendor.

The crisis also affected small food vendors. Rajani Oraon said she temporarily shut her eatery, where she sells dhuska, a popular dish, due to the rising refilling price and limited supply.“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,” she said.Coal prices have also surged, with a sack that normally costs Rs 300, now being sold for Rs 600. Each sack contains around 5-6 kg of coal and typically lasts four days when used for cooking twice daily.“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?” asked Lakshman Lohra, who works at a construction site.Ranchi deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri warned of strict action against those involved in black-marketing or illegal storage of LPG cylinders. He said a zero-tolerance policy would be enforced under the Essential Commodities Act and urged residents to report such activities through the ‘Abua Sathi’ helpline (9430328080) for immediate action.