The government has been conducting raids in various states and Union Territories to combat the hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders. More than 3,500 raids have been carried out, resulting in the seizure of around 1,400 cylinders in states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
The Petroleum Ministry has urged all state and UT governments to conduct regular raids to clamp down on black marketing and hoarding activities. Officials from PSU oil marketing companies have also conducted surprise inspections at over 2,000 retail outlets and LPG distributorships nationwide to ensure smooth supplies and prevent hoarding and black marketing incidents.
Despite the ongoing situation, the government has prioritized domestic LPG and PNG, giving special attention to hospitals and educational institutions. Various measures have been implemented to streamline supply and demand, such as increasing refinery production, extending booking intervals, and allocating additional kerosene to ease pressure on LPG demand.
States and UTs have been directed to identify distribution locations for kerosene, while the Ministry of Coal has instructed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allocate higher quantities to states for coal distribution. Moreover, efforts are underway to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers, with a proposal for increased commercial LPG allocation to expedite the process.
To ensure uninterrupted availability and delivery of LPG cylinders, citizens are advised to rely on official sources, avoid panic bookings, use digital modes for bookings, and refrain from visiting distributorships. Home delivery of cylinders is being prioritized to enhance convenience for consumers.
