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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.

New Age Leadership In Action

Updated: Dec 19, 2024

Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis did so in 2022. Eknath Shinde reciprocated in 2024.


Since the election results were declared in the last week of November, much of the focus has been on who would lead Maharashtra as Chief Minister. But this debate has obscured a rare and powerful display of servant leadership: a leadership style in which the needs of the people and the cause they serve are prioritized above personal aspirations. By stepping aside from his claim to the Chief Minister’s chair, Eknath Shinde exemplified this approach. His willingness to serve as deputy chief minister underscores that advancing the Mahayuti alliance’s vision and mission takes precedence over his personal interests.


This act of humility has only strengthened his stature. Today, Shinde commands greater respect—not merely because his selflessness will be noted by the National Democratic Alliance but because he has demonstrated that politics can rise above the pettiness of personal gain. In doing so, he has earned the trust of voters and stakeholders alike. Fadnavis, who made a similar sacrifice in 2022, displayed the same grace.


Such gestures stand in stark contrast to other instances where politicians have abandoned long-standing alliances or principles in pursuit of power, only to lose public confidence. Maharashtra now offers a compelling counterexample: a model of cooperative and selfless governance that could inspire rest of country.


The world, too, could benefit from this kind of leadership. It calls for leaders who see themselves as servants of the people—leaders rooted in self-sacrifice and dedicated to advancing the greater good. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi often proclaims, he is Pradhan Sevak—the prime servant—of the nation. This ethos of servant leadership has the potential to transform governance by shifting focus away from personal aggrandizement and toward the needs of the people.


Consider the example of PRAGATI, a digital platform that has fast-tracked over 340 long-delayed infrastructure projects worth $205 billion under Mr. Modi’s leadership. Such initiatives demonstrate how a leader’s commitment to service can deliver tangible benefits, even in a complex and bureaucratic system.


The revival of this spirit of service in contemporary leadership could be a gamechanger for India, unlocking the country’s vast potential and inspiring innovative solutions to entrenched problems.


This spirit of servant leadership has implications far beyond politics. It fosters a governance model that prioritizes collaboration over conflict and inclusivity over division. Leaders with such a mindset are better positioned to navigate crises, whether economic, social, or environmental. In a world where polarization often dictates political strategy, example of unity within the Mahayuti alliance is a refreshing departure.


Yet, the challenge lies in sustaining this momentum. Political dynamics are often fickle, and the sincerity of such sacrifices will be tested by the outcomes they deliver. For the Mahayuti, maintaining focus on its manifesto promises will be critical. Success here could set a new standard for coalition politics in India—one where service, not self-interest, becomes the hallmark of leadership.


India’s rich cultural and civilizational heritage has long produced leaders of remarkable vision and integrity. It is time for the world to take note. The solutions to many of its pressing problems lie in transcending narrow self-interest—a principle India embodies in its leadership ethos. As the Kaivalya Upanishad observes, “na karmana na prajaya tyage naika amritatvamanasuh”—sacrifice alone confers immortality. In the public imagination, both Fadnavis and Shinde, who relinquished their rightful claims at critical moments, will be remembered for their selflessness. This bodes well for Maharashtra and its people.


(The author is a professor based in London. Views personal.)

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