Centre cracks down on LPG hoarding

The Centre has intensified enforcement action against LPG hoarding and black marketing, with around 3,500 raids conducted across several states and Union Territories, a PIB statement said Sunday.
The raids, carried out in several states including Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, led to the seizure of over 1,200 LPG cylinders. Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) also conducted surprise inspections at more than 1,800 retail outlets and LPG distributorships to ensure smooth supply and prevent malpractices.
The measures come amid ongoing disruptions in global energy supplies due to the West Asia crisis. The government said it has taken proactive steps to ensure stable availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country. All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude stocks, while domestic LPG production has been maximised. No fuel shortages have been reported at retail outlets, and authorities have urged the public to avoid panic buying.
In the natural gas sector, priority supplies have been maintained for domestic PNG and CNG transport, while commercial and industrial consumers are receiving around 80 per cent of their usual allocation. Consumers in urban areas have been encouraged to shift to piped natural gas, with city gas distributors offering incentives and fast-tracking connections. Domestic LPG supply remains stable with no reported shortages, though concerns persist over commercial LPG. The Centre has increased commercial LPG allocation to 50 per cent, prioritising key sectors such as restaurants, hotels, hospitals and educational institutions.
States have been directed to enforce strict vigilance under the Essential Commodities Act to curb hoarding and black marketing. So far, 32 states and UTs have set up control rooms and district monitoring committees.
Meanwhile, port operations and fuel logistics remain normal, and Indian missions abroad continue to assist nationals in affected regions.