NEW DELHI: The LPG supply shortage in India due to the conflict in West Asia has triggered concerns among the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) across the country. Regional centre heads are fearing that an interruption in the supply of cooking gas might hamper the preparations of athletes training for the CWG and Asian Games later this year.Several NCoE heads admitted in private that the “tense situation” might worsen in the coming days, and that alternate options such as induction cooktops, compatible cookware and electrical appliances were worked out.
The SAI has 23 NCoE and 64 STCs across the country, with residential and mess facilities. According to sources’ estimates, a SAI-run regional centre with proper mess facility usually requires anywhere between 50-60 commercial cylinders for kitchen use every month.It’s been learnt that some NCoE heads, who also command control over the Small Training Centres (STCs) in their regions, have written to regional managers of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), urging them to ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders, particularly during such “unusual global situations”.TOI is in possession of one such letter written by Ritu A. Pathik, executive director, SAI national regional centre (NRC) Sonepat, to the HP Gas office, HPCL, where she demanded regular supply of 19kg commercial LPG gas cylinders at the govt-approved rates, ordering approximately 90 cylinders per month to the SAI centre.“At present, approx 250 athletes are undergoing regular training under the NCoE at this centre, and around 100 athletes are training in national coaching camps in preparations for the forthcoming Asian Games. You are requested to kindly ensure the regular supply of 19kg commercial LPG gas cylinders at the govt-approved rates, approx 90 cylinders per month to the SAI NRC Sonepat,” she wrote to the supplier.
