Amid the closure of hotels and restaurants over fears of fuel shortages, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday announced that some commercial LPG cylinders will be released, adding that state governments will identify the beneficiaries.
The Oil Ministry also said that 40,000 kiloliters of additional kerosene has been allocated to states as an alternative to LPG.
Nearly 50,000 cylinders are being delivered daily, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said during an inter-ministerial press conference, adding that no drought has been reported “on the distribution side.”
Read also | ‘There is no fuel shortage’: Energy Minister Hardeep Puri asserts amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
“But there is a manifold increase in panic booking. We urge citizens to avoid panic booking… State governments have been asked to identify the list of beneficiaries so that the cylinder, the commercial cylinder, can be delivered on priority basis,” Sharma added.
She also said that every three months, the government allocates approximately 1,000 kiloliters of kerosene to the states. “Today, the order has been issued and another 48,000 kiloliters of kerosene will be delivered to the state governments,” she added.
After yesterday’s figure of 25 per cent, Sharma said LPG production has now risen to 28 per cent. “We have a very wide network of retail outlets. Nearly 1,000 retail outlets are operating in the country. The majority of these outlets are affiliated with public sector oil marketing companies. No drought has been reported in any of these retail outlets,” she said during the press conference.
Panic to reserve cylinders
Fears and fears over LPG shortage have gripped states across the country. Consumers rushed to their gas agencies in a state of panic to reserve cylinders.
Amid the ongoing panic, senior Delhi Police officials have reportedly directed their officers to prepare a list of gas agencies in their jurisdictions and deploy personnel to maintain the law and order situation.
Read also | Bengaluru restaurant shuts down amid LPG shortage. “Heart is broken,” says the owner.
The move also aims to curb any attempts at black marketing of cooking gas cylinders during the ongoing supply crisis, and ensure smooth distribution of cylinders.
“The SHOs will deploy police personnel along with PCR trucks and motorcycle patrol riders near gas agencies to maintain law and order and ensure the distribution process remains smooth,” news agency PTI quoted a senior officer as saying.
Many hotels and restaurants have reportedly closed their doors amid the shortage.
“Full confirmation” of the Oil Minister
Earlier in the day, Union Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri briefed the Lok Sabha on the current situation, stressing that there is “no fuel shortage” in India amid growing concerns due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s largest oil corridor.
“There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation and fuel oil is fully assured,” he said.
He also stressed that the country’s supplies of crude oil and domestic LPG are “fully protected.”
