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In the last three weeks, three lakh fifty thousand PNG connections have been activated or new ones have been given. On Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas expressed satisfaction in the daily media briefing that panic booking of LPG has reduced and the government is strictly monitoring black marketers.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that the supply of crude oil remains adequate and refineries are operating normally, due to which the retail availability remains stable. PNG and CNG supplies continue to be supplied to priority consumers, while approximately 80 per cent of industrial demand is being met.

He informed that around 3 lakh 50 thousand new domestic and commercial PNG connections have been activated in three weeks through additional LPG allocation and policy support to promote PNG. LPG supply is being monitored, but distribution is continuing.

Sharma said that special arrangements have also been made regarding commercial LPG cylinder allocation. “Allocation The government has further increased the commercial LPG allocation. We have been continuously requesting state governments to make 50 per cent of the total quantity available for 5 kg cylinders for priority sectors—such as restaurants, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing units, community kitchens and migrant workers,” he said.

Referring to measures to crack down on black marketing, it said, “So far, 20 states and union territories have lifted about 15,800 tonnes, while kerosene has been allocated to 15 states.

32 states and union territories have set up surveillance mechanisms to curb black marketing, which have led to over 37,000 raids, 550 FIRs and 150 arrests, while 234 show cause notices have been issued to oil companies. “Citizens are appealed not to book in panic and use LPG sparingly.”