New Delhi: The Government of India on Wednesday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country despite disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis in West Asia, and urged citizens not to indulge in panic buying.
At an inter-ministerial briefing held at the National Media Centre, officials said retail fuel outlets and LPG distribution systems are functioning normally across the country.
The Centre said excise duty on petrol and diesel has been reduced by ₹10 per litre to shield consumers from rising global crude prices, while export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel have been raised to ensure sufficient domestic availability.
Officials said LPG supply is being prioritised for households and key sectors such as hospitals and agriculture. More than 70 lakh commercial LPG cylinders have been supplied since March 14, while the sale of small 5-kg cylinders and auto LPG has also been increased.
The government said states and Union Territories have been directed to monitor the supply situation and take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. More than 2,100 raids were conducted on April 14, leading to seizure of hundreds of LPG cylinders and action against several distributors.
Officials said the MSME sector has remained resilient despite the situation, with more than 20 lakh new enterprises registered during February and March, taking the total number of registered MSMEs to over 8 crore.
The Centre also said all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe and more than 2,300 have been repatriated so far, while diplomatic efforts are continuing to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and uninterrupted energy supplies.
