SRINAGAR: The Government of India on Sunday said it has intensified preparedness across critical sectors, including energy supply, maritime operations and citizen safety, in view of the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
Issuing a comprehensive update, authorities emphasised that there is no disruption in the availability of petrol, diesel and LPG across the country, while urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely only on official information.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products and LPG. Citizens have been advised to use digital platforms for LPG bookings and avoid visiting distributors unless essential.
Officials said online LPG bookings have reached 95 per cent, while Delivery Authentication Code (DAC)-based deliveries have sharply increased from 53 per cent in February to 90 per cent, aimed at preventing diversion of cylinders.
More than 51 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered on a single day, while over 90,000 five-kg free trade LPG cylinders were sold on Saturday alone. Since March 23, around 6.6 lakh such cylinders have been distributed.
The government has also increased the interval between LPG bookings to manage demand and prioritised domestic consumption, along with critical sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
Authorities said strict enforcement measures are underway under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000, to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
More than 50,000 LPG cylinders have been seized in raids across states since March, while over 1,400 show-cause notices have been issued to distributors and 36 distributorships suspended.
States and Union Territories have been directed to conduct daily press briefings, establish control rooms, and intensify monitoring of misinformation on social media.
The government said natural gas supplies to domestic PNG and transport CNG segments remain at 100 per cent, while supply to fertiliser plants is set to increase to around 90 per cent of average consumption from April 6.
Efforts are also underway to expand piped natural gas (PNG) networks, with over 3.6 lakh new connections activated since March. Authorities have extended the National PNG Drive 2.0 till June 30 to accelerate adoption of cleaner fuels.
A new regulatory framework for pipeline expansion has been notified to streamline approvals and boost infrastructure growth under the Essential Commodities Act.
Despite a surge in global crude prices due to the West Asia tensions, the government said retail fuel prices remain unchanged.
To cushion consumers, excise duty on petrol and diesel has been reduced by Rs 10 per litre. Export levies have also been imposed on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to ensure adequate domestic availability.
All refineries are operating at high capacity with sufficient crude inventories, officials said.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said maritime operations remain stable, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours.
Seventeen Indian-flagged ships with 460 Indian seafarers continue to operate in the western Persian Gulf region, while a 24×7 control room has handled over 5,000 calls and more than 10,000 emails since activation.
More than 1,479 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, including 159 in the last 24 hours.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions across the region remain in close contact with the diaspora, providing assistance and issuing advisories.
A total of 345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran returned home on Saturday, facilitated through transit via Armenia.
Since February 28, around 7.02 lakh passengers have travelled from the region to India, with flights gradually normalising across countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Authorities said travel from conflict-affected zones is being routed through alternative corridors, including via Jordan, Egypt and Armenia.
The government also confirmed that the mortal remains of an Indian national killed in an attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman have been repatriated, with support extended to the bereaved family.
Reiterating its advisory, the government urged citizens to conserve energy, avoid unnecessary travel to LPG distributors, and remain vigilant against misinformation, asserting that adequate supplies and systems are in place to manage the situation.
