Udupi Wine Merchants Demand Audit Over Disrupted Commercial LPG Supply

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Udupi : The Udupi District Wine Merchants Association has expressed strong resentment over the irregular supply of commercial LPG to bars and restaurants, which has persisted for the last two months. Speaking at a protest meeting held at Sharada Hotel near Karavali Bypass on Wednesday, Association President B. Govindaraj Hegde alleged that while legitimate businesses paying GST and excise duties are struggling for fuel, gas is reportedly available in the black market and for catering services. He questioned why the supply shortage, often blamed on the Middle East conflict, seems to selectively target hotels and bars while other public events continue unaffected.

Highlighting the financial contribution of these establishments, Hegde noted that they pay significant amounts in GST monthly and demanded that the district administration prioritize gas supply to both veg and non-veg restaurants. He urged the District Collector to conduct a thorough audit of the supply and distribution logs of local gas agencies to bring transparency to the situation. The association warned that they would submit a formal memorandum to the Collector and launch a rigorous protest if the issue is not resolved immediately. Key members including Santhosh Kumar Shetty, Rohit Kumar Shetty, Sajjan Hegde, and Hansraj Shetty were present at the meeting.