SRINAGAR: The Government of India on Sunday said it is maintaining continuous oversight and implementing preparedness measures across energy, shipping and citizen safety sectors amid the evolving situation in West Asia, including the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
In an official update, the government said all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while stocks of petrol and diesel remain sufficient. Domestic LPG production has increased, and retail fuel outlets are functioning normally across the country.
To ensure domestic availability, the Centre has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and imposed export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel. It also cautioned against panic buying, noting that isolated instances of crowding at fuel stations were driven by rumours.
Natural gas supplies have been prioritised for household PNG and CNG transport, with industrial supply currently at about 80 per cent of average consumption. Additional LNG cargoes are being sourced, and measures are underway to accelerate the expansion of city gas distribution networks.
While LPG supplies have been affected by the geopolitical situation, the government said there are no reports of shortages at distributorships. Domestic deliveries remain normal, with over 55 lakh refills delivered on Saturday. Commercial LPG allocation has been progressively increased to 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with priority for key sectors including hospitality and industry.
Additional allocations of kerosene have also been made to states and union territories to ease pressure on LPG demand.
The Centre has directed states to intensify enforcement against hoarding and black marketing, conduct daily briefings, and counter misinformation. Nearly 2,900 raids were conducted recently, leading to the seizure of around 1,000 LPG cylinders.
On maritime operations, the government said all Indian seafarers in the region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours. Two LPG carriers carrying about 94,000 metric tonnes of cargo are en route to India. Port operations across the country remain normal.
The Directorate General of Shipping has repatriated over 900 Indian seafarers so far and continues to monitor vessels in the Persian Gulf region through a 24×7 control room.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely tracking the situation and has activated special control rooms and helplines. Indian missions in the region are operating round the clock, assisting nationals with travel, visas and other support.
Since late February, over 5.24 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region. Flight operations are continuing in a calibrated manner, with alternative routes arranged for countries facing airspace restrictions.
The government reiterated its advisory urging citizens to avoid panic purchases, rely on official information, and conserve energy during the ongoing situation.
