In a decisive move against LPG shortages, India’s Central government has launched widespread raids across states to combat hoarding and illegal trading. Speaking on Saturday, officials revealed ongoing operations in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and beyond.
Authorities executed over 3,500 raids, confiscating around 1,400 cylinders in the process. The Petroleum Ministry has called on every state and Union Territory to maintain vigilance through frequent inspections, ensuring no room for black marketeers.
OMCs from the public sector have inspected more than 2,000 retail shops and distribution hubs unexpectedly, safeguarding supply continuity and probing potential hoarding cases. Even in these testing times akin to conflict zones, priority remains on household PNG/PNG, hospitals, and schools.
Proactive steps address both supply and demand: increased refinery output, longer booking cycles in urban (25 days) and rural (45 days) areas, and sector-specific prioritization. Kerosene gets an extra 48,000 KL allocation, with districts tasked to set up distribution networks. Coal supplies are surging via Coal India and Singareni for diverse users.
Efforts to simplify PNG connections for homes and businesses include a proposed 10% hike in commercial LPG quotas. Citizens are urged to use apps for bookings, shun physical visits to distributors, and ignore unverified rumors, as home deliveries proceed without hitches.