NEW DELHI: The shortage of LPG supply in India due to conflict in West Asia has raised concerns among Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centers of Excellence (NCoEs) across the country. Heads of the regional centers fear that the disruption in cooking gas supply could hamper the players’ training preparations for the CWG and Asian Games later this year.Several NCoE chiefs privately admitted that the “tense situation” could worsen in the coming days, and worked on alternative options such as induction cooktops, compatible cookware and electrical appliances.
SAI has 23 NCoEs and 64 STCs across the country, with residential and mess facilities. According to sources’ estimates, a SAI-run regional center with adequate mess facility usually requires 50-60 commercial cylinders for kitchen use per month.It is learned that some NCoE chiefs, who also control Small Training Centers (STCs) in their regions, have written to regional managers of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), urging them to ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders, especially during such “unusual global conditions”.TOI is in possession of a similar letter written by Ritu A. Pathak, Executive Director, SAI National Regional Center (NRC), Sonepat, to the HP Gas Office, HPCL, where she has sought regular supply of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders at government-approved rates, and has asked the Center to order about 90 SAI cylinders per month.“Currently around 250 athletes are undergoing regular training at this center under NCoE, and around 100 athletes are undergoing training at national coaching camps in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games. You are requested to please ensure regular supply of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders to NRC Sonepat,” he wrote to the supplier.
