Onlykashmir.in
Amidst the recent spate of reports on the availability of LPG on social media, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that the supply of domestic cooking gas across the country is completely safe and uninterrupted. According to the ministry, the main reason for the current challenges is temporary disruptions in international shipping routes, while there is no shortage of production or transmission system within the country.
Officials said that currently, there are more than 33 crore domestic LPG connections in India, which reach almost every household. This vast network has been strengthened in the last decade under schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjala Yojana. 210 LPG bottling plants are operating at full capacity in the country, with a total production of 22.4 million metric tonnes per annum.
In view of global pressure, the government has directed refineries to increase domestic production, which has resulted in an increase in LPG production by 25%. Along with this, additional imports have also been accelerated so that there is no pressure on the supply chain.
The government has also implemented the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers are leaving for the ports with 92,700 tonnes of gas, the arrival of which will further improve the supply. At present, the country has a buffer stock of 15 to 18 days, which is enough to deal with any temporary crisis.
According to officials, the queues seen in some areas are actually the result of precautionary booking by the public, and not an actual shortage. The ministry clarified that there are separate arrangements for hotels and commercial users, while there is no impact on the supply of domestic users.
The ministry has appealed to the public to book cylinders only as per their requirement and monitor their booking and supply through government apps. At the same time, citizens have been instructed to avoid unconfirmed news and rumors as the LPG system is strong, stable and fully functional.
