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In light of escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a statement on Saturday to reassure citizens about the adequate availability of petrol and diesel across the nation. The ministry urged the public to avoid unsafe practices, such as storing fuel in open containers. A post on X highlighted that petrol and diesel are sufficiently stocked at retail outlets nationwide, advising consumers against using inappropriate containers for fuel storage due to serious safety risks.

Response to Safety Violations in Tamil Nadu

This advisory follows an incident in Tamil Nadu where petrol was being sold in open containers at a retail outlet, violating safety regulations. The ministry confirmed that strict action has been taken in this case, including the suspension of the petrol pump involved and appropriate measures implemented.

Enforcement of Safety Guidelines

The ministry has mandated that all fuel vendors adhere strictly to safety guidelines when selling petrol and diesel. It emphasized that any violations would result in severe consequences. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing and Refining) of the Ministry, appealed to citizens not to panic and to book fuel only when absolutely necessary.

Allocation of LPG for Commercial Cylinders

Sharma also mentioned discussions regarding the allocation of a specific quantity of LPG for commercial cylinders, which has been coordinated with state governments. Consequently, these cylinders are now available to consumers in approximately 29 states and union territories, with distribution already underway. Currently, online bookings account for about 84%, but there is a need to improve this figure to nearly 100%.

Crackdown on Black Marketing

To combat black marketing and hoarding, ongoing raids and surprise inspections are being conducted. Joint teams of state officials and oil marketing companies have been formed in several states, conducting inspections and raids. For instance, joint teams in Maharashtra and Rajasthan have carried out sudden checks, while around 1,400 locations in Uttar Pradesh have also been inspected. Approximately 20 FIRs have been filed, several individuals have been detained, and prosecution proceedings have begun against about 19 people. Similar operations have taken place in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Karnataka.