Keonjhar Residents Stage Road Blockade Over Cooking Gas Distribution Crisis
Frustrated consumers in Keonjhar town took to the streets on Monday, blocking the crucial Keonjhar–Jharbelda road near Sankarpur village by placing LPG cylinders directly on the roadway. This dramatic protest was sparked by severe disruptions in cooking gas distribution that have left many households struggling to obtain essential fuel.
Three-Hour Traffic Standstill
The blockade created significant traffic disruptions that lasted for over three hours, bringing vehicular movement to a complete standstill. Protesters revealed that they had arrived at the local LPG warehouse early in the morning, only to find the facility locked with no staff present to assist them.
"We waited for hours from the early morning," explained one consumer who participated in the protest. "When no staff members turned up even by 8am, we had no choice but to start this blockade to draw attention to our plight."
Background of Distribution Problems
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that the existing gas dealer had recently been suspended over allegations of mismanagement and black marketing activities. In response, the oil company had transferred distribution responsibilities to another dealer under the direct supervision of its sales officer.
However, this change has failed to resolve the fundamental issues affecting consumers. Social activist Binod Kumar Naik highlighted the ongoing problems: "Despite a change in distributor, nothing has improved. Home delivery has completely stopped, forcing people to travel nearly 8 kilometers with empty cylinders. Many return without gas despite receiving booking confirmation messages. Company officials remain silent, which raises serious suspicions about the entire operation."
Vulnerable Groups Most Affected
Consumers emphasized that senior citizens and women are bearing the brunt of this distribution crisis. Pradeep Mohanty, another affected consumer, stated: "The government claims there is no gas shortage, but here in Keonjhar, many people with valid booking messages are returning empty-handed. Even company officials monitoring the supply are not providing clear answers about when the situation will normalize."
Manoj Kumar Sahu, a differently-abled consumer, shared his particular challenges: "They collect delivery charges but fail to deliver cylinders to our homes. People like me, along with the elderly and women, are forced to travel 8 kilometers to the warehouse. This is both unsafe and incredibly inconvenient. The government must immediately restore doorstep delivery services."
Official Response and Consumer Skepticism
Additional civil supply officer Bira Kishore Marandi offered an explanation for the disruption, noting that gas supply could not reach the warehouse on Sunday due to the holiday. "Distribution will resume once the stock arrives this afternoon," he assured. "Simultaneously, raids are being conducted to curb black marketing activities in the area."
Despite these assurances, consumers remain skeptical and frustrated. They claim the distribution company is not sharing any information about cylinder availability, forcing them to make repeated, fruitless visits to the warehouse.
Police Intervention and Resolution
Following the three-hour blockade, police and civil supplies officials reached the protest site to negotiate with demonstrators and restore normal traffic flow. Their intervention helped de-escalate the situation temporarily, though underlying grievances about the gas distribution system remain unaddressed.
The protest highlights growing consumer frustration with essential service delivery in the region, particularly affecting vulnerable populations who depend on reliable LPG distribution for daily cooking needs.
