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News India Live, Digital Desk: Amidst the ongoing fierce war in the Middle East (Iran-Israel War), the Government of India has made another major change in the booking rules to ensure the availability of domestic LPG. To prevent the ever increasing ‘panic booking’ and hoarding, the mandatory interval between two bookings of domestic gas cylinders (14.2 kg) has now been increased. According to the new rules, now general consumers will have to wait at least 25 to 35 days for the next refill, while for Ujjwala beneficiaries this time limit has been fixed even longer. The government has taken strict steps to stop panic booking. The government has taken this step after the news which claimed that due to the fear of gas shortage due to the war, people were booking cylinders before the need. According to officials, many people who earlier used to book cylinders in 50-60 days, now started booking in 15 days only. To control this artificial demand, the Petroleum Ministry has increased the ‘mandatory gap’. Now if you try to book before the stipulated time limit, the system will block it by saying ‘Early Booking’. Who has to wait how long? New rules at a glance: Gas companies have set different time limits depending on the category of customers: Urban Consumers (Urban Area): The booking interval for customers living in the city will now be at least 25 days. Rural Consumers (Rural Area): In villages, this interval has been increased to 45 days. Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will now have to wait for 45 days for the next refill. Double Cylinder (DBC) Connection: For those who have two-cylinder connections, this interval has been fixed at 35 days. Middle East crisis and ‘Essential Commodities Act’ India imports about 60% of its LPG requirement, a large part of which comes through the ‘Strait of Hormuz’. In view of the risk posed to this sea route due to the Iran war, the government has implemented the sections of the ‘Essential Commodities Act’. Its objective is to give priority to the supply of domestic cooking gas and to prevent theft of gas for commercial use. The government has made it clear that there is sufficient stock of gas in the country, but these strict rules are necessary to keep the distribution system balanced.