Bhubaneswar, 08 April (H.S.): Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Bikshubdha Krushak Mazdoor Union (BKMU) staged a protest in the city on Tuesday, demanding immediate resolution of the ongoing cooking gas shortage and alleging large-scale inconvenience to consumers.

The protestors claimed that despite repeated assurances from the Prime Minister, the Odisha Chief Minister, and the State Food Supplies Minister that there is no shortage of LPG, consumers continue to face difficulties in accessing cooking gas. They alleged that even after a stipulated waiting period of 24 days for booking, cylinders are not being delivered.

The situation has particularly affected small roadside food vendors, hostel residents, students, and daily wage workers who rely on smaller cylinders. Protestors pointed out that 5-kg cylinders are not readily available in the open market, further aggravating the crisis.

They also criticized the state government’s recent directive requiring consumers to produce documents such as residence certificates, income certificates, and identity proof to procure LPG cylinders. According to the demonstrators, these conditions have complicated access, especially for students and migrant workers, raising concerns about whether individuals should prioritize standing in queues or their daily responsibilities.

The organisations further alleged that the state’s public distribution system has become dysfunctional, indirectly encouraging black marketing. They accused authorities of failing to regulate supply effectively, leading to exploitation of consumers.

The protest march began from the CPI office and saw participation from several party leaders and members, including former MLA N. Narayan Reddy, state assistant secretary Jayant Das, BKMU state secretary Sura Jena, and other local leaders, who expressed strong dissatisfaction over the prevailing situation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda