Editor,
Every meal has become a struggle. With LPG cylinders out of reach and power cuts hitting without warning, families are running out of options and patience.
Two essential things that every household depends on are now failing at the same time. With the ongoing conflict, the shortage of LPG has turned into an expensive ordeal. In the black market, a single cylinder is being sold for Rs 3,500, and getting one through the regular booking system is becoming increasingly difficult. One concerned citizen, whose last booking was on April 2, has not received a new cylinder even after a 25-day wait. If we are not getting the gas cylinder on time, the least we can expect is an uninterrupted power supply.
With no LPG available and unannounced power cuts becoming frequent, what other option do people have for cooking? As more households have turned to electricity for cooking since the fuel crisis began, the lack of prior notification for power shutdowns has only made things worse.
Despite repeated statements from the government claiming there is no shortage, the ground reality tells a different story. Many households are left without a cylinder and have been forced to fall back on traditional methods of cooking. But how long can this go on? Ordinary people are bearing the burden while others are taking advantage of the situation.
Who is responsible for this crisis? Is it the government for failing to set up a proper channel to address the problem, or the gas agencies that are not responding to calls or issuing any statement? The unannounced power shutdowns add yet another layer of hardship. The public is paying the price for the absence of two things that are absolutely essential in this day and age.
The government and the concerned agencies must step up, communicate clearly, and act immediately. People deserve answers, not silence. A concrete plan to restore regular LPG supply and a proper power shutdown schedule is not too much to ask for. It is the bare minimum owed to every household struggling to put food on the table.
Yours etc.,
An aggrieved citizen
