Distribution of commercial LPG cylinders has begun across 29 states and Union Territories, while enforcement agencies have stepped up raids and surprise inspections nationwide to check hoarding and black-marketing amid pressure on cooking gas supplies, a senior oil ministry official said on Saturday.Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma said panic booking of LPG refills continues to rise despite adequate stocks being available to meet domestic household demand. She added that India has sufficient crude inventories and that refineries are operating at full capacity, ensuring adequate supply of petrol and diesel.“There are no dry-out reports from any retail outlets. Our refineries are operating at full capacity, and sufficient petrol and diesel are available. Based on our requirements, we produce adequate petrol and diesel domestically and do not need to import,” she said.Sharma said the government is prioritising domestic LPG consumers even as it monitors the evolving geopolitical situation that has affected energy supplies from Gulf countries. India imports 88 per cent of its crude oil, about 50 per cent of its natural gas and around 60 per cent of its LPG demand, PTI reported.Before the conflict escalated following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, more than half of India’s crude oil needs were met from the Middle East, along with about 30 per cent of gas supplies and 85-90 per cent of LPG. The disruption has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, the main sea route for energy shipments from the region. While India has sourced additional crude from alternative suppliers such as Russia, gas supply disruptions have resulted in cuts for industrial and commercial users including hotels and restaurants.“The situation is a matter of concern for all of us, but we are ensuring that household consumers do not face inconvenience. Domestic consumers have been prioritized, and LPG cylinder supply is being ensured for them,” she said.Refill bookings have surged sharply due to panic buying, she added. “Yesterday, the number of bookings was about 75 lakh, and it has now increased to around 88 lakh. This is nothing but panic booking,” Sharma said, urging consumers to book cylinders only when needed.Before the conflict, daily LPG bookings averaged around 55 lakh and oil marketing companies delivered about 50 lakh cylinders each day. While deliveries have remained unchanged, bookings have risen significantly. Sharma clarified that booking restrictions are linked to the gap between deliveries.“In urban areas, there is a minimum gap of 25 days between the last delivery and the next booking, while in rural areas the gap is 45 days. If consumers try to book before this window, the booking will not take place,” she said.To ease supply pressure, the government has increased domestic LPG output. “The first day we informed you about a 10 per cent increase in domestic production, then 25 per cent, then 28 per cent, and today the increase has reached 31 per cent,” she said.State-run GAIL has also met city gas distribution operators and advised them to provide piped natural gas (PNG) connections to commercial consumers facing LPG shortages. Consumers able to shift from LPG to PNG are being encouraged to do so, she said.Commercial LPG cylinders have been placed at the disposal of state governments to prioritise distribution among consumers, and supplies have already begun in 29 states and Union Territories.As part of supply management measures, the Commission for Air Quality Management has allowed industries and establishments in the National Capital Region to temporarily use biomass and RDF pellets instead of natural gas and LPG for one month. Sharma added that domestic PNG supply and CNG allocation for vehicles will continue at 100 per cent with no cuts.State governments and district administrations have been asked to closely monitor distribution, with review meetings already held in Haryana, Goa, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Enforcement efforts have also been intensified.Authorities in Maharashtra and Rajasthan have conducted joint inspections, while surprise checks were carried out at around 1,400 locations in Uttar Pradesh. “As many as 20 FIRs have been registered in Uttar Pradesh, and prosecution has been launched against 19 people,” she said, adding that raids have also taken place in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka.Oil marketing companies have activated inspection teams and conducted around 1,300 surprise checks at LPG distributorships and retail outlets in a single day. The government has also asked companies to promote digital booking of refills and spread awareness to prevent panic buying.Consumers have been urged to use SMS, WhatsApp and mobile apps of oil marketing firms for bookings instead of visiting distributors. “There is no need to stand in queues at distributorships for booking or cylinder delivery. OMCs deliver cylinders to consumers’ homes and will continue to do so,” Sharma said.She added that while the situation remains serious, LPG supplies are continuing. “There is no cause of panic. We urge consumers to rely only on information provided through official channels and resort to unnecessary panic.”
