Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: In light of the evolving situation in West Asia, the Government is actively engaged in ensuring preparedness and seamless functioning across key sectors. Following are the measures being undertaken in the areas of energy supply, maritime operations, and assistance to Indian nationals in the region.
Energy supply & fuel availability
For LPG, citizens have been requested to use digital modes for booking of cylinders and avoid visiting distributors unless necessary.
Citizens being encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG, induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible.
Conservation of energy in daily usage being encouraged.
Supply management measures
Several rationalisation measures on both the supply and demand side of LPG have been undertaken, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritising sectors for supply.
Several rationalisation measures on both the supply and demand side of LPG have been undertaken, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritising sectors for supply.
Alternate fuel options like kerosene and coal have been offered to ease pressure on LPG demand.
The Ministry of Coal has issued order to Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allot higher quantities to states for distributing coal to small, medium and other consumers.
States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers.
Targeted distribution of 5 kg free-trade LPG cylinders is being done, based on local requirements along with oil marketing companies (OMCs).
All relevant government officials in states have been told
- To institutionalise daily press briefings at state / district level and issue regular public advisories.
- To set up dedicated control rooms / helplines
- To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.
- To intensify daily enforcement drives by district administration and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs
- To issue commercial LPG allocation orders within their states / UTs
- To issue superior kerosene oil (SKO) allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to states / UTs.
- To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.
- To nominate senior nodal officers for coordination with MoPNG
- All states / UTs have set up Control Rooms and District Monitoring Committees to curb hoarding / black marketing instances.
- Since March, more than 50,000 cylinders have been seized by the joint teams of states / UTs and public sector OMC officials.
- Public sector OMC officials have been directed to strengthen the system of surprise inspection to deter any instance of hoardings / black marketing.
- They have issued more than 1400 show cause notices to LPG distributorships so far. Also, 36 LPG distributorships have been suspended.
LPG supply
Online LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 95 per cent on industry basis.
To prevent diversion at the distributor level, Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have been increased from 53 per cent (Feb 2026) to 90 per cent on April 4.
Refining companies including petrochemical complexes have been permitted to make available certain minimum quantities of C3 & C4 streams for critical sectors like Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Department of Chemicals & Petro Chemicals etc. based on specific quantity and refinery source as determined by the Centre for High Technology (CHT).
Since 23rd March, about 6.6 Lakh – 5 Kg FTL cylinders have been sold. The 5 Kg FTL cylinders are available at nearby LPG Distributorships and can be purchased by showing any valid ID proofs. No address proof is required.
Supply to operating urea plants is now steady at around 70-75 per cent of their last six-month average consumption. Considering the available inventory and scheduled LNG cargo arrivals, overall gas supply available to fertiliser plants is planned to be increased to approximately 90 per cent of their average consumption over the preceding six months, effective April 6.
City gas distribution (CGD) entities have also been advised by India to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens across all their geographical areas, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.
In order to protect consumers from the impact of supply shortages, the Government has decided to absorb a part of this burden through a reduction in excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 / litre.
Export levy of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has been imposed to ensure availability of these products in the domestic market.
Additional allocation of 48000 kilo litres of kerosene over and above the regular allocation has been made to all the states and UTs.
A maximum of two public sector oil service stations per district have been permitted to store up to 5,000 litres of kerosene for public distribution.