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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.

The Rebel In The Family

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Dhananjay Munde

As Agriculture Minister, Dhananjay Munde has taken several decisions for the benefit of the agriculture and the farmers in the state over the past year and now it as if he is getting ready to assume the larger role of saviour of farmers after the Assembly elections.


Born on July 15, 1975, in Parli, Beed, he is the nephew of the late Gopinath Munde, a BJP veteran. While following his uncle’s footsteps his political career began initially with the ABVP and later in the form of his association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he served as the President of the Youth Wing (BJYM). He was being looked at as the political heir apparent of his uncle. However, when he realised that his cousin sister Pankaja Munde was being promoted in the politics by his uncle, he parted ways and switched allegiance to the NCP, where he found his political footing and rose through the ranks.


In the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, Dhananjay won the Parli constituency, defeating Pankaja. This victory was significant as it marked a shift in the political landscape of the region, traditionally dominated by the BJP. His win was attributed to his grassroots connect and his ability to address local issues effectively.


Dhananjay’s leadership style is characterized by his ability to connect with the masses and his commitment to addressing their concerns. He is known for his extensive tours of his constituency, where he interacts directly with the people, listens to their grievances, and works towards resolving their issues. His down-to-earth image and dedication to public service have earned him a loyal following.


Despite his achievements, Dhananjay’s political career has not been without controversies. In January 2021, he faced a rape allegation, which was later withdrawn. He refuted the allegations and continued to focus on his political responsibilities. This episode demonstrated his resilience and determination to uphold his integrity.


In this election, Dhananjay is expected to play a double role as an elder brother after his reunion with Pankaja and a trusted lieutenant of NCP chief Ajit Pawar. The NCP’s poll success in Marathwada largely depends upon how Dhananjay mobilises the cadre. He knows the pulse of the people. However, the caste equation is not in his favour. Being an OBC he is likely to face a stiff opposition from the Maratha community. If he could sail through his party Dhananjay would emerge as a force to be reckon with. If he fails, he might choose to return to the BJP for a better prospectus.

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