Jharkhandinc Bureau
NEW DELHI, March 13: The Union government has said there is no shortage of LPG in the country and urged consumers not to panic, even as supply concerns and delays in cylinder deliveries have been reported in several cities including Ranchi.
Speaking in Parliament, the Petroleum Ministry said reports of LPG shortages were largely rumours and that supply chains were functioning normally. Officials said India continues to receive crude oil shipments and maintain regular distribution through the network of oil marketing companies.
According to official statements, a large crude oil tanker has recently arrived in India carrying oil from abroad. The vessel reached Mumbai after loading crude from overseas terminals, and authorities said such shipments help maintain steady fuel availability across the country.
Government data indicates that India delivers around 50 lakh LPG cylinders daily through distributors serving both urban and rural areas. Officials said the supply system remains stable and there is no disruption in the overall availability of cooking gas.
The government has also introduced temporary measures to ease consumer concerns. Oil marketing companies have enabled manual booking facilities that allow consumers to request cylinder refills through phone numbers issued by distributors.
Officials said the manual booking option will remain available while regular booking systems continue to operate. Consumers have been advised not to panic or attempt bulk bookings, as this could increase pressure on the distribution network.
The Petroleum Ministry has also made changes to LPG refill booking rules for rural areas. The minimum waiting period for subsidised cylinder bookings has been reduced from 45 days to 25 days in an effort to improve accessibility for households.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is working to curb LPG black marketing and ensure cylinders reach genuine consumers. He urged state governments to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent hoarding and illegal diversion of subsidised cylinders.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders raised concerns over fuel supply conditions and demanded greater transparency from the government regarding distribution systems.
Energy sector observers say India’s LPG demand has grown rapidly in recent years following the expansion of cooking gas connections under welfare programmes. They said maintaining smooth logistics and efficient distribution networks will be crucial to ensuring stable supply across the country.
Authorities have reiterated that LPG supply remains adequate and have urged consumers to rely on official booking systems while avoiding panic-driven demand.
