Fuel Supply Concerns Spark Nationwide Panic Amid LPG Shortages

Nationwide Fuel Supply Concerns

Recent reports of a fuel shortage have caused widespread alarm across the country. On Thursday, long queues were observed outside petrol stations and LPG distribution centers in various regions. This situation has not only distressed the general public but has also begun to adversely affect the operations of restaurants, schools, and catering services. The government, however, assured Parliament that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or kerosene despite the crisis in West Asia, urging citizens not to panic.

The Uttarakhand government has decided to prioritize the supply of commercial gas cylinders to hospitals and educational institutions, and is also preparing to provide wood for commercial use if necessary.

Government's Stance: 'No Shortage, Stay Calm'

Restaurants and quick-service chains that heavily rely on commercial LPG cylinders are worried that supply restrictions could disrupt their operations and increase costs. Many eateries in various parts of the country have had to limit their services. According to the Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, small and medium-sized restaurants in the state are facing severe impacts. Several renowned restaurants in Chennai have stopped serving high-gas-consuming dishes like dosa and fried rice to conserve dwindling gas supplies.

Impact on the Business Sector

A restaurant owner in Delhi reported, 'There is a cylinder shortage. Even at double the price, around ₹1,500 to ₹2,000, we can't get a cylinder.' He mentioned that his restaurant requires at least three cylinders daily. In West Bengal, officials noted that the alleged shortage of cooking gas is affecting the mid-day meal scheme in several schools. Some locations are resorting to alternative fuels like wood, or serving limited food items to students.

Assam police have warned of strict action against those spreading rumors about LPG and other fuel shortages.

Government Measures to Address Rumors

A day earlier, the Chief Secretary stated that the local refinery in the state can only meet about 30% of the total demand for cooking gas. The government has also formed a media monitoring committee to keep an eye on rumors, misinformation, and misleading news. Panic buying has led to allegations of black marketing of gas cylinders. In the national capital, police have been instructed to compile a list of gas agencies in their areas and deploy personnel to maintain law and order while monitoring the LPG supply situation.

An official stated, 'Our goal is to maintain law and order and prevent any form of black marketing. We want to ensure that people receive LPG cylinders through a proper distribution system.' In Kolkata, police have also begun actions against alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders, following directives from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to closely monitor such activities.

Standard Operating Procedures Implemented

On Thursday, the state government issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure coordinated monitoring of LPG supply and distribution. A 24-hour control room will be established at the state secretariat, Nabanna, to address supply-related complaints. The SOP states, 'This process has been issued to guide coordinated monitoring, stabilize supply, and ensure immediate resolution of public complaints.'

A state-level LPG crisis monitoring committee has also been formed under the Chief Secretary's leadership to regularly review the supply situation and provide policy guidance to maintain availability across the state.

Increased Demand Strains Booking Systems

Meanwhile, the booking systems of oil marketing companies are under pressure. Distributors have reported that the servers are crashing due to a sudden surge in demand for refills. In West Bengal, the average daily booking of LPG cylinders has nearly doubled to around two lakh, up from about one lakh previously. A spokesperson for the Indian LPG Distributors Association, Bijan Biswas, stated, 'People are buying out of fear. Many are worried they won't get another cylinder soon, which has led to this situation.'

State Governments Monitoring Supply

Telangana's Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on Thursday that the state government has called a meeting with representatives from oil marketing companies to assess the LPG supply situation and discuss future measures, with Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao also in attendance. He confirmed that there have been no issues with domestic LPG supply so far.

He added, 'We are monitoring the LPG situation. Domestic supply is at 86% and commercial supply at 14%. There have been no issues with domestic supply yet, but we are aware of some problems with commercial supply.' In Odisha, the state government clarified on Thursday that there is no shortage of LPG, petrol, or diesel. After a high-level review meeting, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister K.C. Patra stated that there is ample stock of LPG and fuel in the state.

Reassurances from Various States

In Haryana, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rajesh Nagar stated that the supply of petroleum products, including domestic LPG, is completely normal and warned of strict action against those spreading rumors and engaging in black marketing. In Rajasthan, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara assured that there is sufficient stock of domestic LPG cylinders and urged consumers not to panic regarding supply.

Godara mentioned that in light of the current situation arising from international events, the government has formed vigilance teams in all districts to prevent hoarding, manipulation, or misuse of domestic LPG cylinders. In Kerala, a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to request the central government to increase the allocation limit for non-domestic LPG cylinders due to the rising number of migrant workers in the state. Currently, the allocation limit for non-domestic gas cylinders is 20%. Additionally, a state-level monitoring committee will be established to oversee the daily consumption and distribution of cooking gas cylinders for both commercial and domestic use.

In Maharashtra, the state government announced that it has formed control rooms and district-level committees to ensure the uninterrupted supply of domestic and commercial cylinders. An official statement released late in the evening indicated that the Additional Chief Secretary of the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department, Anil Diggikar, has instructed officials to take necessary steps to maintain smooth supply and closely monitor LPG distribution across the state. The department confirmed that there is no shortage of domestic LPG in Maharashtra and assured citizens that there is no need to panic.

Catering and wedding services have also been affected. A spokesperson for a major catering service provider in Puducherry mentioned that they are not accepting orders for small events as fulfilling large pre-booked orders, especially for weddings, has become a priority. Organizers of wedding ceremonies and caterers in Delhi have warned that if the supply of commercial LPG cylinders continues to face disruptions and prices rise, the catering costs for wedding events could increase by approximately 10 to 20%. Mohsin Khan, a planner from the wedding planning company 'Vivaah Luxury Weddings,' stated, 'Large-scale cooking and cooking stations require a significant number of commercial cylinders for weddings and large events. Many vendors report that they have only two to four days' worth of stock left, leading to discussions about reducing the variety of food options and increasing costs by about 10 to 15%.'