This follows 1,926 bulk tankers from the Western India Bulk LPG Transporters Association going on strike from Monday evening, demanding an increase in transportation fares from the oil marketing companies (OMC). The strike has affected the supply of LPG gas cylinders to Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Additional Collector Vasant Vaidya said the step was taken to address the situation with the city having only limited stock of gas. “Even as the OMCs are making arrangements to get gas from alternative sites, we decided to invoke the Act in order to bridge the demand-supply gap,” he told Newsline.

District supply officer Snehal Barge said they will consider pushing more tankers into service to meet the demand.

On Wednesday, OMCs had said that they would be looking at alternative sites to get empty gas cylinders refilled.

Vaidya said he had visited the sites of the OMCs to check the stock situation. “These alternative sites will be able to meet the demand,” he said.

The city requires 50,000 gas cylinders each day from the OMCs.

Vijay Bhave, all-India president of LPG dealers association, however, said the agencies were not getting the required stocks on time in the past two days and have stocks to last just for another day. He said that were not sure as to when the supply would reach them. “This situation will definitely affect the steady flow of cylinders to the consumers,” he said.