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Sena supremo to address Mumbai LMOs on 7 September
MUMBAI: The tiger roars at CAS again. Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray is slated to meet nearly 1,000 Mumbai-based cable operators on Sunday, 7 September 2003. In all probability, the venue of the meeting is the Rang Sharda auditorium at Bandra Reclamation in suburban Mumbai.
Incidentally, the cable trade (read multi system operators) in Mumbai has got a 10-day grace period from the I&B ministry due to Ganesh Chaturthi and the rollout of CAS is poised to happen only after 11 September, when the festival ends.
Senior Shiv Sena functionaries have confirmed that the Sena supremo will address the last mile operators in Mumbai.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Shiv Sena member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam says: “Most probably, Balasaheb will address a meeting of all the last mile operators and address them on Sunday, 7 September 2003.”
With his clarion call “Humse Panga mat Lo!” (Don’t mess around with us), Nirupam has been one of the most vociferous MP who raised posers about the implementation of CAS in the country in Parliament.
Shiv Sena Vibhag Pramukh and CODA (Cable Operators’ and Distributors’ Association) spokesperson Anil Parab says: “Nothing is confirmed as yet but Balasaheb will meet the last mile operators before the new deadline for CAS implementation.” Parab, himself a cable entrepreneur (who started Dattatray Cable) feels that the way in which CAS is being implemented currently is against the interests of the consumers and the cable operators.
There were unconfirmed reports that senior BJP leaders including the deputy prime minister LK Advani were scheduled to meet Thackeray and obtain his support for CAS in Mumbai.
More importantly, Mumbai is the only city amongst the other metros where the ruling NCP-Congress alliance hasn’t had a say in the CAS rollout – unlike in Delhi where both the BJP (Madan Lal Khurana) and ruling Congress chief minister (Sheila Dixit) have opposed CAS; similarly in West Bengal, the ruling CPI-M has sought clarifications from the central government.
An Enam Securities report titled India Strategy dated 7 August 2003 says that CAS will change the Rs 80 billion pay TV market. It says that in the pre-CAS era, the LMOs used to get Rs 65 billion, multi-system operators (MSOs) used to get Rs 5 billion and broadcasters will get Rs 10 billion. The scenario, says the Enam Securities report, will change post the implementation of CAS. In the new scenario, broadcasters will get Rs 35 billion plus Rs 10 billion; MSOs will get Rs 5 billion and LMOs will get Rs 30 billion.
All eyes on the Sena supremo’s meeting with LMOs.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
