Following the failure of US-Iran talks regarding the Middle East conflict, certain gas agencies involved in the black marketing of domestic gas cylinders are once again having a field day. The situation is such that, even after 35 days, the software used for booking domestic gas cylinders remains completely stalled. Individuals who had previously received a cylinder received a notification prompting them to re-book after 25 days; however, upon attempting to book after this 25-day period, the booking is failing to go through. Instead, users are receiving messages instructing them to contact the gas agency directly—a situation causing immense distress among the public.
According to reports, establishments ranging from five-star hotels down to small eateries, restaurants, and *dhabas* have currently devised temporary alternative arrangements, including the use of traditional stoves (*bhattis*). Nevertheless, within these commercial establishments—spanning both large and small hotels—domestic gas cylinders are being black-marketed at prices ranging between ₹3,500 and ₹3,800. Despite its intentions, the administration remains unable to take effective action. Although Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dalwinderjit Singh has issued orders to officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to conduct raids, the prevailing conditions observed at the gas agencies clearly demonstrate that the DC’s orders are not being implemented with sincerity.
**Most Hotels Adopt Alternative Means**
Speaking specifically of Sri Amritsar Sahib, the local economy is heavily reliant on the tourism industry. From mid-March through the end of June, the city experiences a massive influx of tourists, with thousands arriving daily. The volume of visitors is currently so high that even the tourist gallery located at the Attari Border has proven too small to accommodate everyone, forcing people to stand outside to watch the parade. Given that the supply of commercial gas cylinders remains suspended, most hotels have resorted to adopting alternative energy sources; these include diesel-fired stoves, induction cooktops, and domestic gas cylinders procured through the black market. Every hotel owner has been compelled to spend hundreds of thousands of rupees to purchase traditional stoves (*bhattis*) because commercial gas cylinders for hotels still do not feature on the government’s list of priorities.
**Households Hosting Weddings Face Distress**
Households hosting wedding ceremonies are also currently facing significant distress, as confectioners (*halwais*) are unable to procure gas cylinders needed to prepare food and refreshments. People are submitting applications to the administration and the Food Supply Department; however, the department is legally unable to facilitate the allocation of cylinders to such households. That said, cylinders can certainly be obtained on the black market—from various gas agencies—at two to three times the standard price. Most notably, the department currently possesses no record of how many illegally procured (black market) cylinders it has seized to date—a fact that clearly points to collusion.
**The Issue of Gas Cylinders Resonates in Parliament**
The issue regarding the unavailability of commercial gas cylinders for hotels, restaurants, *dhabas*, and similar establishments—even during the peak season—was raised in Parliament by MP Gurjit Singh Aujla. He urged the government to recognize that Amritsar’s economy is heavily reliant on the tourism industry and, consequently, to grant special exemptions regarding the delivery of commercial gas cylinders to hotels in the region. However, no positive outcomes have emerged from this matter thus far, resulting in the financial exploitation of hotel owners.
**Inflation Takes a Toll on Every Individual**
The economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East is currently impacting every individual. The price of plastic bags has surged by up to ₹50 per kilogram. Vegetable prices have risen by 15 to 20 percent, while the cost of iron and steel reinforcement bars (*sariya*) has increased by up to 10 percent. In the context of the “City of the Guru” (Amritsar), it is evident that visiting tourists are bearing the brunt of this inflation; any additional expenditure incurred by hotels, restaurants, *dhabas*, and similar establishments on alternative cooking methods—beyond standard gas cylinders or traditional stoves—ultimately translates into a financial burden on the tourists’ pockets. The cup of tea, a daily staple, has become 15 to 20 percent more expensive, and the situation is much the same for a standard meal platter; meanwhile, certain expensive dishes that require extensive cooking have vanished from menus altogether.
**Administration Urged to Take Strict Action Against Agencies Involved in Black Marketing**
Vijay Agarwal, President of ‘Voice of Amritsar,’ stated that he has submitted a written demand to the administration to identify gas agencies involved in the black marketing of both commercial and domestic gas cylinders. He urged that strict action be taken against such agencies under the Essential Commodities Act, noting that while hotel owners are already facing significant distress, the general public is also enduring severe hardships in procuring domestic gas cylinders.
