The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has strengthened a control room, comprising nodal officers from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to fact-check the facts and issue immediate clarifications to the States and Union Territories, which is now working round the clock, amid growing public concerns over the availability of LPG.
The move comes in the backdrop of reports indicating public apprehensions about a possible restriction in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the domestic market due to the ongoing developments in West Asia.
In response, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Wednesday called a meeting with chief secretaries and directors general of police of all states and union territories as well as secretaries of the ministries of petroleum, information and broadcasting and consumer affairs to review the situation and coordinate response measures.
According to sources, during the meeting the states and Union Territories were informed that the government has issued LPG Control Order, directing refineries and petrochemical complexes to maximize LPG production and give priority to domestic supply for domestic consumers.
Officials clarified that restrictions have been imposed on distribution of LPG cylinders to commercial establishments like hotels and restaurants to ensure adequate availability for domestic use. However, these restrictions do not apply to essential institutions like hospitals and educational institutions.
The Center also asked states to strengthen the security of LPG-related infrastructure and personnel so that the supply chain can be kept safe. State administrations were advised to daily monitor the availability and distribution of LPG at the local level and take strict action against hoarding, black marketing or any violation of supply norms.
The officials were also directed to maintain law and order and conduct awareness campaigns to reassure the public about the availability of cooking gas. These awareness campaigns are expected to be run in coordination with oil marketing companies to counter misinformation and prevent panic buying.
Further, States have been asked to keep a close watch on social media platforms and take immediate action against the spread of fake news or misleading content, which may create unnecessary panic by circulating outdated or unrelated content.
India is one of the largest consumers of LPG in the world, which is widely used as the primary cooking fuel in households. Government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana have substantially increased the availability of LPG over the last decade, connecting millions of rural and economically weaker households to the clean fuel network. Officials said the central government will continue to monitor the situation to ensure uninterrupted availability of LPG to domestic consumers across the country.
