Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A group of LPG distributors has claimed a shortage of domestic gas supply in the city and sought police protection to manage aggressive crowds gathering at various agencies. However, govt authorities have denied any shortfall, attributing the long queues to “panic booking” by consumers.On Friday, a delegation of LPG distributors met with district collector Deelip Swami to request security personnel for their premises.“Crowds have increased significantly due to the festive season. Some consumers have become highly aggressive upon being unable to secure an immediate refill. We believe police deployment is necessary to prevent any untoward incidents,” said one distributor.Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district currently has 77 registered LPG distributors catering to approximately 11.8 lakh consumers.When contacted, district supply officer (DSO) Pravin Phulari dismissed the claims of a genuine shortage, instead blaming consumer behavior. “Panic booking by several customers has created a false perception of scarcity. We have been appealing to consumers since March 5 to register for refills only when necessary and to avoid hoarding,” Phulari said.He specifically pointed to customers with “double bottle connections” (DBC) as the primary drivers of the surge in bookings. According to the DSO, the district continues to receive a steady daily supply of approximately 20,130 domestic LPG cylinders.Meanwhile, the local hospitality industry has reiterated its demand for the resumption of commercial LPG supply. Govt authorities stated that the current suspension of commercial supply is a policy decision by the Central govt, citing disruptions linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
