Commercial LPG shortage hits city; black marketing alleged

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Most gas agencies have run out of commercial LPG cylinders, severely affecting hotels and wedding caterers. While the official price is Rs 1,940, some agents are allegedly selling cylinders in the black market for around Rs 3,000, with reports of offers up to Rs 4,000. Many hotels and vendors say they bought cylinders at nearly double the price.

With stocks exhausted, some agents are reportedly sourcing cylinders from rural warehouses. The shortage has forced street vendors and restaurants to build makeshift wood-fired furnaces using metal drums, bricks and clay; one vendor in Jawahar Colony now uses nearly two quintals of firewood daily. Caterers held a meeting to discuss alternatives such as induction stoves and wood- or coal-based furnaces. Large induction units from Waluj may be used in wedding halls, while outdoor functions may rely on traditional fuel-based cooking, said Mahesh Lahoti, president, Caterers Association.