State governments in India are cracking down on LPG hoarding and black marketing amid a decline in bookings due to global geopolitical tensions. According to the petroleum ministry, LPG bookings have dropped by nearly 1 million, with 7.7 million bookings recorded on March 14 compared to 8.88 million on March 13.
Several states, including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, have conducted raids to check hoarding and black marketing of gas cylinders. The ministry said that 22 states and union territories have established control rooms to monitor the situation.
High-level meetings have been conducted in several states and union territories to review LPG supply, ensure continuity of distribution, and prevent black marketing and panic booking. The ministry also reported that over 1,483 inspections were carried out in Uttar Pradesh alone, leading to 24 FIRs and 6 arrests for hoarding of LPG cylinders.
The petroleum ministry assured that the energy supply and fuel availability situation is stable, with all refineries operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. The country remains self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, and no imports are required to meet domestic demand.
