Bhubaneswar: Alleged shortages of LPG cylinders triggered protests and road blockades in several parts of Odisha on Friday, as consumers complained of long delays in receiving refilled cooking gas cylinders despite booking them days in advance.
Long queues were reported outside LPG distribution centres across the state, with many people waiting for refills even after several days of placing their bookings.
In Jajpur town, agitated residents staged a road blockade by placing empty LPG cylinders on the road after a local distributor shut its office displaying a “No Stock Today” notice. Consumers accused the distributor of deliberately withholding supplies to sell cylinders in the black market at higher prices.
“I booked a cylinder five days ago. The distributor asked me to come today, but when I arrived the office was closed,” said a consumer waiting outside the agency.
Similar protests were reported in Keonjhar district, where residents blocked the Keonjhar–Sanaghagara road over the alleged scarcity of LPG cylinders, briefly disrupting vehicular movement. Personnel from the local police station reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters, following which the blockade was withdrawn.
A protesting woman said the shortage had made it difficult for families to cook daily meals as distributors were unable to supply adequate cylinders. After police intervention, the local distributor agreed to supply filled cylinders to consumers as per the waiting list, officials said.
Queues were also seen outside LPG agencies in several other places, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Sambalpur, indicating the scale of the supply crunch.
Amid the complaints, civil supplies officials carried out a raid in Jharsuguda district and seized 92 LPG cylinders, including 29 filled ones, which were allegedly being hoarded, an officer said.
The shortage has forced many households to resort to alternative cooking methods. In several rural areas, residents have begun using firewood, kerosene, coal and dried cow dung for cooking, while some urban families have shifted to induction cooktops and other electrical appliances.
The sudden spike in demand has reportedly led to shortages of such appliances in the market as well, with induction cooktops going out of stock on several e-commerce platforms.
The LPG crunch has also begun affecting eateries in some cities, with a few hotels and restaurants reducing menu items while others have increased food prices.
However, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said on Thursday that adequate stock of cooking gas and fuel was available in the state. He appealed to the public not to panic and instructed officials to remain vigilant to ensure consumers do not face hardship. District collectors have also been directed to submit daily reports on the supply situation.
