There is some relief for Meghalaya’s hospitality and tourism sectors as the Central Government has increased the allocation of commercial LPG cylinders to 70% of the regular quota. The move is expected to ease pressure on restaurants, hotels, and small businesses that had been struggling with limited supply.
The shortage in Meghalaya was part of a broader disruption in LPG availability across several parts of the country, linked to global supply constraints. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East had affected import channels, leading to reduced availability and tighter distribution controls.
According to Saloni Verma, Deputy Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies, the state’s commercial sector began facing difficulties from March 11, 2026. Due to import-related challenges, the Centre had initially capped commercial LPG supply at just 20% of the daily requirement.
“Out of the 1,000 commercial cylinders Meghalaya needs daily, we were only receiving about 200,” Verma explained. While essential institutions such as hospitals and schools continued to receive 100% of their supply, businesses including dhabas and hotels faced significant constraints.
Following sustained engagement by the State Government, the situation has gradually improved. In recent days, daily supply has increased to around 400 cylinders, and with the revised 70% allocation expected to take effect shortly, the supply situation is likely to stabilise further, providing relief to the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Officials have reiterated that domestic LPG supply has remained unaffected throughout this period. Verma clarified that there has been no cap imposed on household LPG by the Government of India. Data indicates that the state continues to distribute between 5,000 and 7,000 domestic cylinders daily, consistent with pre-crisis levels.
Addressing concerns over long queues at distribution points, officials noted that these are not a result of shortages. Instead, the rush is largely due to residents completing mandatory eKYC documentation and related procedural requirements.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department continues to monitor the situation closely through district-level committees. Authorities have urged the public to avoid panic and refrain from spreading misinformation.
“The domestic supply is not disrupted,” Verma assured. “We request everyone to remain calm as the situation continues to improve.”
