NEW DELHI: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies are a matter of concern mainly due to panic bookings that have risen by 59% to nearly 8.9 million, but no droughts have been reported from anywhere so far, an official said, as the government on Saturday issued an order prohibiting anyone transporting piped natural gas (PNG) to maintain LPG deliveries.
Invoking the Essential Commodities Act, the government has banned the supply of domestic LPG to someone with a Papua New Guinea connection. In the event that a person owns PNG and LPG facilities, “such persons will be required to surrender their local LPG connection with immediate effect,” the order said.
“As far as LPG supply is concerned, it remains a matter of concern for us in view of the prevailing geopolitical situation, but no drought has been reported so far,” said Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), while revealing details of the fuel supply situation at the ministerial briefing on the recent developments in war-torn West Asia.
There has been a significant increase in the number of LPG bookings due to panic buying. It said daily bookings increased from an average of 55.7 lakh (5.57 million) to 88.8 lakh (8.88 million) yesterday.
Sharma appealed to both domestic and commercial LPG customers to switch to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supplied by City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies to reduce dependence on LPG.
“India imports 60% of the LPG it uses. In the last decade, the number of domestic LPG (cooking gas) connections has crossed Rs 33 lakh (330 million) from around Rs 14 lakh (140 million), an increase of 136%,” it said.
It informed that state-run gas marketing major GAIL India on Friday held virtual meetings with CGD companies supplying fuel in major urban areas like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kanpur and Jaipur and advised them to speed up and enhance new PNG trade connections for hotels and restaurants so as to reduce pressure on LPG supplies.
Earlier this week, the government guaranteed 100% natural gas supplies to priority sectors for local PNG and CNG customers, without any cuts. However, supplies to commercial and industrial consumers are regulated by 80%.
“The commercial cylinders are at the disposal of state governments so that they can give priority to consumers. Distributions have begun in around 29 states and union territories (UTs), and consumers are getting them without interruption,” she said.
“It is the responsibility of all states and union territories to monitor the supply situation, and the district administration plays a key role in this. Some chief ministers, including those from Haryana and Goa, have held meetings with their senior officials to ensure equitable distribution of gas cylinders. Likewise, senior officials in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have held meetings with their line departments and oil marketing companies (OMCs) to maintain a strong supply situation,” she added.
Regarding hoarding, Sharma said the role of the state government is also important in implementation through surprise inspections and raids to control hoarding and black marketing.
Meanwhile, joint teams of state officials and OMC executives conducted raids in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Surprise checks were conducted at around 1,400 locations in Uttar Pradesh. About 20 FIRs were lodged, and several people were arrested. Sharma said prosecutions had been initiated against 19 people.
“Similar measures have been taken in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka. In addition, the OMCs conducted 1,300 surprise inspections at various LPG distributors and retail outlets on Friday,” it added.
Sharma said the government’s efforts are aimed at protecting fuel supplies to local consumers.
