Bhubaneswar: In view of a shortage of commercial LPG supply amid the US-Iran war, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to temporarily allow coal and firewood for cooking.
The move will help small and mid-sized hotels, restaurants and tea stalls, which have been greatly inconvenienced by the commercial LPG cylinder crisis.
The conflict in the Middle East, into its 12th day since Iran launched retaliatory strikes on American bases in Gulf region after joint US-Israeli attacks killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on February 28, has led to the blocking of Hormuz Strait and disrupted supply of oil and gas.
The hospitality industry has been greatly hit in the country, with hotels and restaurants in several cities forced to downsize operations or shut down. Bhubaneswar is no exception, as many small and medium-sized eateries are struggling to get adequate LPG cylinders.
BMC had earlier imposed a ban on the use of coal in Bhubaneswar as burning coal produces smoke and increases air pollution levels. The civic body had also imposed fines on any establishment found to be violating the order and using coal as fuel.
Because of the current crisis, shop owners and food vendors sought permission to use alternative fuel.
BMC has agreed to relax the restriction for the time being.
Mayor Sulochana Das said said hotels, restaurants and tea stalls will be allowed to use coal and firewood as fuel until the supply of commercial LPG is regularised. Once the crisis is resolved, the previous restrictions put in place to control pollution will be reinforced.
