'Do not panic book ': Centre assures adequate LPG stocks; new booking rules to prevent hoarding

NEW DELHI: With global energy markets rattled by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has moved to stabilize the domestic LPG supply chain. Amid reports of long queues at gas agencies and surging consumer anxiety, the government has reiterated that there is no nationwide shortage and has cautioned against the spread of misinformation.

To ensure energy security for households, the Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act, prioritizing domestic LPG over commercial use. Under these new demand-management measures, the minimum interval for domestic cylinder bookings has been adjusted: it is now 25 days for urban consumers and 45 days for those in rural areas.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also issued a strong advisory to media houses, urging them to avoid repetitive, alarmist coverage that could fuel unnecessary panic. "The current situation is one of demand distortion driven by fear, not a supply collapse," an official stated.

Meanwhile, in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened a high-level meeting with cabinet ministers and public sector oil company representatives to address the state's specific concerns regarding the hospitality and service sectors, which have been disproportionately affected by the commercial supply restrictions.