The Central government on Sunday, May 3, intensified its crackdown on hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders, conducting more than 1,900 raids across the country to maintain supply stability amid evolving geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that enforcement actions have resulted in penalties imposed on 349 LPG distributorships, while 74 distributorships have been suspended.
On the supply front, the ministry confirmed that approximately 47 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered on May 2 against bookings of around 47.4 lakh cylinders, indicating that supplies are largely keeping pace with demand. The Centre maintained that 100 per cent supply is being ensured for domestic LPG, domestic piped natural gas, and CNG for transport, prioritising household requirements.
Acknowledging the impact of the prevailing geopolitical situation on LPG supply, the ministry noted that availability has been partially restored on the commercial front. The total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels. Since April, a total of 11,082 metric tonnes of auto LPG has been sold by PSU oil marketing companies, with targeted distribution efforts continuing for smaller cylinders, including supply focused on migrant populations.
In a significant maritime update, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that a Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 metric tonnes of Indian cargo, has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry added that all Indian seafarers in the region remain safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. Port operations across the country are continuing normally.
On retail availability, the government assured that there is no disruption in fuel supply, with all retail outlets operating normally and adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at petrol pumps nationwide. Citizens have been urged to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and to rely solely on official sources for correct information.
States and union territories have established control rooms and district monitoring committees to curb hoarding and black marketing. Coordinated efforts across ministries, states, and oil marketing companies remain ongoing to ensure continuity of fuel supply and energy security as the West Asia situation continues to evolve.
