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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Commercial LPG 'evaporates' in Maharashtra

Mumbai : The short supply of commercial LPG cylinders turned ‘grim’ on Wednesday as hundreds of small and medium eateries – on whom the ordinary working Mumbaikars depend on for daily meals – shut down or drastically trimmed menus, on Wednesday.   With an estimated 50,000-plus hotels, restaurants and small food joints, the crunch is beginning to be felt severely, said Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) vice-president and Hotel and Restaurant Association Western...

Commercial LPG 'evaporates' in Maharashtra

Mumbai : The short supply of commercial LPG cylinders turned ‘grim’ on Wednesday as hundreds of small and medium eateries – on whom the ordinary working Mumbaikars depend on for daily meals – shut down or drastically trimmed menus, on Wednesday.   With an estimated 50,000-plus hotels, restaurants and small food joints, the crunch is beginning to be felt severely, said Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) vice-president and Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI) spokesperson Pradeep Shetty.   “We are in continuous touch with the concerned authorities, but the situation is very gloomy. There is no response from the Centre or the Ministry of Petroleum on when the situation will ease. We fear that more than 50 pc of all eateries in Mumbai will soon down the shutters. The same will apply to the rest of the state and many other parts of India,” Shetty told  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ .   The shortage of commercial LPG has badly affected multiple sectors, including the hospitality and food industries, mass private or commercial kitchens and even the laundry businesses, industry players said.   At their wits' ends, many restaurateurs resorted to the reliable old iron ‘chulhas’ (stoves) fired by either coal or wood - the prices of which have also shot up and result in pollution - besides delaying the cooking.   Anticipating a larger crisis, even domestic LPG consumers besieged retail dealers in Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Akola, Nagpur to book their second cylinder, with snaky queues in many cities. The stark reality of the 12-days old Gulf war with the disturbed supplies has hit the people and industries in the food supply chains that feed crores daily.   “The ordinary folks leave home in the morning after breakfast, then they rely on the others in the food chain for their lunch or dinner. Many street retailers have also shut down temporarily,” said Shetty.   Dry Snacks A quick survey of some suburban ‘khau gullies’ today revealed that the available items were mostly cold sandwiches, fruit or vegetable salads, cold desserts or ice-creams, cold beverages and packed snacks. Few offered the regular ‘piping hot’ foods that need elaborate cooking, or charging higher than normal menu rates, and even the app-based food delivery system was impacted.   Many people were seen gloomily munching on colorful packets of dry snacks like chips, chivda, sev, gathiya, samosas, etc. for lunch, the usually cheerful ‘chai ki dukaans’ suddenly disappeared from their corners, though soft drinks and tetrapaks were available.   Delay, Scarcity  Maharashtra LPG Dealers Association President Deepak Singh yesterday conceded to “some delays due to supply shortages” of commercial cylinders, but assured that there is no scarcity of domestic cylinders.   “We are adhering to the Centre’s guidelines for a 25 days booking period between 2 cylinders (domestic). The issue is with commercial cylinders but even those are available though less in numbers,” said Singh, adding that guidelines to prioritise educational institutions, hospitals, and defence, are being followed, but others are also getting their supplies.   Despite the assurances, Shetty said that the current status is extremely serious since the past week and the intermittent disruptions have escalated into a near-total halt in supplies in many regions since Monday.   Adding to the dismal picture is the likelihood of local hoteliers associations in different cities like Pune, Palghar, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and more resorting to tough measures from Thursday, including temporary shutdown of their outlets, which have run out of gas stocks.

A Fierce Battle Awaits between Kolhapur giants

Kolhapur’s ‘Tigeress’ Ready to Take on the Mahayuti ‘Lion’


Kolhapur: The political tension in the Kolhapur North Assembly constituency has intensified with the announcement of candidates. In this contest, Rajesh Kshirsagar of the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena will face off against the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi's candidate, Chhatrapati Madhurima Raje, known as Kolhapur's 'Tigeress.' Her candidacy presents a significant challenge to the Mahayuti, promising a closely fought battle that will undoubtedly attract statewide attention.


The unfolding drama within the Mahayuti has been captivating, particularly following Kshirsagar's recent political jibe aimed at BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik. This led to a rift in the party, with Mahadik's loyal supporters expressing their dissent. The situation escalated further with the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray registering their displeasure, especially as the constituency shifted towards Congress.


The Congress party's internal strife became apparent when Rajesh Latkar, a non-member, was nominated, angering supporters of sitting MLA Jayashree Jadhav. This internal conflict culminated in protests, including stone-pelting against the Congress committee. Ultimately, the party rectified its course by nominating Madhurima Raje, which appears to have pacified tensions and revitalized their campaign.


Madhurima Raje's entry into the race adds a dynamic element to the contest. Just four months after the Lok Sabha elections, which saw the victory of Chhatrapati Shahaji Maharaj, the political stakes in Kolhapur have risen significantly. Critics may question the concentration of power in one royal lineage, but Raje's assertive campaigning style has garnered substantial support, particularly among local youth.


Rajesh Kshirsagar is seen as a staunch ally of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and his candidacy has been portrayed as a matter of prestige for the Mahayuti. The backing of BJP's Mahadik faction only strengthens his position. With his appointment as Executive Chairman of the State Planning Board, Kshirsagar has also secured development projects for Kolhapur, making this constituency a focal point ahead of the elections.


The Election Commission has already flagged Kolhapur North as a sensitive constituency, indicating that this electoral battle will be one of the most watched across the state. As the campaign heats up, the strategies and loyalty of party factions will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this high-stakes election.

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