Lucknow: The ongoing shortage and rationing of commercial LPG cylinders has started affecting banquet halls and catering services across the city, creating uncertainty ahead of the ongoing wedding and event season. With large-scale cooking operations dependent almost entirely on LPG, operators said even short disruptions can affect scheduled functions.Several banquet operators said their current LPG stocks may last only a few days, after which they may be forced to either arrange costly alternatives such as wood and coal or temporarily stop accepting new bookings.The auspicious dates for weddings are available for the entire month of March, experts said, while insisting that the heavy rush will remain until March 14. After that, there will be a decline in the number of weddings. The wedding season will pick up pace again from April 10.Shivendra Singh, a banquet manager at a city hotel, said the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. “We have LPG stock that may last for 4-5 days, but if the shortage continues, we may have to stop taking fresh bookings for weddings. Without assured gas supply, it becomes very risky to commit to large events,” he said.Caterers said the timing of the crisis is particularly worrying, as business is expected to pick up after Ramzan.Majid Umar, a city-based caterer, said several functions are already lined up. “The wedding season in the community begins soon after Eid, and we already have advance bookings. If LPG supply does not improve, we may face heavy losses because most catering work depends completely on commercial gas,” he said.He added that LPG is essential not just for cooking but also for maintaining food temperature during service. “In large functions, food has to be prepared in batches and kept warm for hours. That is only possible with a steady LPG supply,” he said.Some caterers said switching to coal or firewood is only a temporary and less efficient solution.Dinesh Gupta, a small-scale caterer, said, “Cooking on coal takes more time and manpower. It also increases costs and creates difficulties in maintaining uniform taste when preparing food in large quantities.”Industry members warned that if the shortage continues, it may also affect daily wage workers associated with the event industry. They urged authorities to restore normal LPG supply quickly to prevent disruption during the peak wedding season.
