New Delhi: The Union government on Monday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG cylinders in India and asked citizens not to panic amid concerns linked to the situation in West Asia.
The clarification follows remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting in Telangana, where he urged people to use imported petroleum products only as needed, citing the need to save foreign exchange and reduce the adverse impact of war-related disruptions.
The comments triggered debate and led to reports suggesting a possible shortage of petroleum products. In response, a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with Union ministers in attendance, was held in Delhi to review the evolving situation.
After the meeting, Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma told reporters that although conflict clouds hang over regions that meet a large share of India’s energy needs, imports are continuing without interruption. She said India has sufficient stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel and LPG, and reiterated that there is no fuel shortage.
Sharma added that the Prime Minister’s appeal was aimed at encouraging prudent use in view of global disruptions. She also said global fuel prices have touched highs, but prices have not been increased to avoid burdening customers. The government further said 10 fuel-laden ships flying the Indian flag have been allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz without any additional charges and are expected to reach India safely soon.
