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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To...

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To facilitate this monumental legislative transition, the state government has formally sanctioned the constitution of a dedicated expert committee, which is being spearheaded by a retired High Court judge. This committee has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of meticulously preparing the draft bill for the Uniform Civil Code, which the government intends to enact immediately upon the submission of the final report. Emphasising the overarching objectives of the proposed legislation, Kadam noted that the Uniform Civil Code would universally apply to every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations and would explicitly incorporate a stringent ban on the controversial practice of polygamy. The minister drew direct parallels with the legislative measures recently adopted by states like Uttarakhand, underscoring that the impending law in Maharashtra would similarly entail severe penal consequences, potentially including imprisonment for up to seven years for violations related to polygamy and illegal divorce practices. He firmly maintained that the government’s approach is fundamentally secular, harboring no animosity toward any specific religion, but is rather driven by the constitutional imperative to extend equal rights, legal protection, and comprehensive justice to women from all communities. This definitive policy assurance from the government was catalysed by a highly volatile calling attention motion initiated by BJP legislator Devyani Farande, which thrust the deeply sensitive issues of triple talaq and polygamy into the center of the assembly’s monsoon session. Farande brought the ongoing plight of Muslim women to the immediate attention of the House, asserting that despite the central government’s strict legislative prohibition, the illegal practice of instant divorce continues to flourish unabated.

Maharashtra gasps for ‘gas’

Workers load LPG cylinders at a depot following recent price hikes for both domestic and commercial units in Nagpur on Tuesday. | Pic: PTI
Workers load LPG cylinders at a depot following recent price hikes for both domestic and commercial units in Nagpur on Tuesday. | Pic: PTI

 

Mumbai: An abrupt shortage of commercial LPG cylinders gripped many parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra hitting the hospitality sector and raising fears of a larger crisis as the Centre invoked the stringent Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968, in a warning to potential hoarders.

 

Mumbai and surroundings are feeling the pinch of the commercial LPG (19-kg) cylinders used in restaurants, hotels, caterers, street-food vendors and other players in the food supply chains that feed crores daily.

 

Dealers claim that LPG supplies have been delayed or dropped sharply since last weekend, creating panic even among domestic consumers.

 

Maharashtra LPG dealers association president Deepak Singh admitted “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 with commercial cylinders but even those are available though less in numbers. We are following the government’s guidelines by prioritising educational institutions, hospitals, and defence, but others are also getting their supplies,” said Singh in a social media statement.

 

However, the hotels and restaurants bodies said that around 20 pc of eateries, particularly the smaller ones have temporarily shut shop, and around 50 pc may down shutters within the next few days if the LPG supplies don’t normalise.

 

FHRAI Vice-President and HRAWI Western India Spokesperson Pradeep Shetty said that “shortage of commercial LPG has become extremely serious over the past week”, with intermittent disruptions escalating into a near complete halt in supply in several regions since yesterday.

 

The Ministry of Petroleum’s notification (March 5) created confusion among suppliers and distributors, many of whom have stopped supplying commercial LPG cylinders to hotels, restaurants and food service establishments, he pointed out.

 

Shetty said severe shortages are reported from Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and similar disruptions in many other states and if the situation doesn’t improve by Thursday, there could be huge repercussions.

 

“Nearly 50 pc of Mumbai hotels and restaurants may be forced to close down temporarily depending on the LPG stock they currently hold. This will affect international tourists both, who are already here and those who will be visiting the country. Smaller and medium-sized eateries will be the first to be impacted, as they typically operate with limited reserves,” Shetty warned.

 

A housewife from Vasai, Ruma M. Bose today rushed to buy an induction stove and even repaired an old electric picnic stove to keep the domestic fires burning, just in case, though her society has a piped gas supply.

 

Retail dealers in Mumbai reported bookings by anxious domestic consumers after the refill period gap was extended to 25 days, though there are no confirmed instances of any black-marketing of LPG cylinders.

 

Thousands of distributors

Of India’s around 33.20 crore consumers, Maharashtra accounts for some 55-lakhs in domestic, commercial and industrial categories, with thousands of distributors dotting the state.

 

More than 75-80 pc of the hospitality sector depends on commercial LPG, and shortages or disruptions can deal a fatal blow. Mumbai alone has over 50,000 big and small eateries, and as per AHAR, 20 pc have shut shop for now, and upto 50 pc may soon follow suit.

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