Mumbai, 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 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, 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 legislature premises, seeking urgent relief. "We explained the challenges restaurants are facing and how several restaurants have significantly downsized or shut down entirely," said Vijay K Shetty, President, Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR). Speaking in the legislative council, Bhujbal said oil companies had sufficient LPG stock, and distribution was proceeding smoothly. "LPG production has been increased from 9,000 metric tonnes to 11,000 metric tonnes. The government appeals to citizens not to worry about LPG supply." he said. "Police protection for LPG transportation and distribution would prevent supply chain interference and curb the blackmarketing of cooking gas," Bhujbal said. On March 8, district collectors and regional offices were instructed to form district-level vigilance squads and take action against black marketing, he noted. "The state government is considering distributing kerosene as an alternative to LPG. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has been informed about this on March 11," Bhujbal said. Bhujbal said prices of edible oils had increased by Rs.4-6 due to the conflict in west Asia. As regards supply of commercial LPG, priority has been given to hospitals, educational institutions, crematoriums, old-age homes and orphanages, he said. On Monday, AHAR representatives spent nearly half the day at the Vidhan Bhavan, meeting chief minister Fadnavis, food and civil supplies minister Bhujbal, women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare and speaker Rahul Narvekar. The disruption in commercial LPG supply, now in its ninth day, has significantly dented restaurants' earnings, particularly for smaller establishments, AHAR representatives told the government. "We have been assured that on Tuesday, the state government will discuss the issues we are facing with oil marketing companies as well as with the union ministry of petroleum and natural gas," AHAR President Shetty told Hindustan Times. The shortage has forced restaurants to offer fewer items on the menu and procure small quantities of ingredients, a manager at a Bandra-based restaurant and bar said. An AHAR representative who did not wish to be identified said, "Most permit rooms and bars are providing dry snacks procured from snack vendors. Now, those vendors too have curtailed their business because of LPG shortage."...