PNG connections prioritised for businesses amid nationwide LPG shortage

Amid the ongoing LPG crisis across the country the Government of India on Sunday asked city gas distribution CGD companies to prioritise piped natural gas PNG connections for commercial establishmentsAs reported by news agency ANI the government has also taken several steps to ensure stable fuel supplies as conflict in West Asia continues to impact energy flowsIn an official update released on Saturday the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said City Gas Distribution CGD entities have been advised by the Govt of India to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants hotels and canteens across all their gas to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPGMisinformation can lead to unnecessary panicProactive measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply across the countrybull Domestic LPG production has increasedbull Supply is being prioritised for householdsbull Measures have been implemented to prevent diversionbullhellip pictwittercom5ZF9wc6kVKmdash Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas MoPNG PetroleumMin March 12 2026Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry also added that the government has asked ministries and state governments to speed up approvals related to gas infrastructure reported ANI The Ministry added Govt of India vide letter dated 19032026 has requested all concerned Central Government Ministries to issue necessary directions for immediate fast tracking and disposal of all pending and new permissions related to CGD infrastructureIndian government encourages offices to use PNGThe government has also encouraged government offices and establishments to move towards PNG usage where possibleAll Central Government establishmentsColoniesOfficersCanteens may also be advised to switch over to PNG wherever the same is available the ministry saidTo support commercial users the government has increased the allocation of commercial LPG cylinders The ministry asserted Govt of India vide letter dated 21032026 has allowed another 20 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to states which would take the overall allocation to 50 per centThis additional 20 per cent allocation shall be given on priority to sectors like restaurants dhabas hotels industrial canteens food processingdairy subsidised canteensoutlets run by state governments or local bodies for food community kitchens and 5 kg FTL for migrant labourers it added while expressing concerns over the LPG crisis across IndiaIt also noted that the government has stepped up monitoring to prevent black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylindersThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas while expressing concerns over the black marketing of LPG cylinders also noted Raids continue to be carried out in many of the StatesUTs to check the hoardings and black marketing of LPG More than 3500 raids have been conducted and around 1400 cylinders have been seized in Uttar Pradesh Telangana Maharashtra etc as per ANIThe ministry also stated that All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories in place adding that the country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and dieselIt also reassured the public that there are no fuel shortages at retail outlets ROsNo cases of fuel dryouts have been reported at any of the ROs by the oil marketing companies the ministry said while advising people not to resort to panic buyingThe development comes amid the escalating tensions and conflict that began on February 28 with the killing of 86yearold Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes by the US and IsraelWith inputs from ANI