India, March 17 -- Food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday informed the legislative council that the state government has authorised police protection for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transportation and distribution to curb increasing blackmarketing in the wake of shortage due to the war in West Asia.

The government has registered 23 cases and arrested 18 people for alleged LPG blackmarketing thus far, and it is actively considering supplying kerosene as an alternative fuel, Bhujbal told the legislative council.

Meanwhile, owners of restaurants and eateries in the city, which have been hit acutely by disruptions in commercial LPG and piped natural gas (PNG) supply, met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state le...