The Centre has increased the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG refill from 21 days to 25 days after authorities noticed a surge in demand linked to fears of supply disruption during the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Officials said bookings had risen by nearly 15-20 per cent as households began ordering cylinders earlier than usual. The government maintains that LPG supply in the country remains adequate and that the move is meant to prevent hoarding and manage inventory.
The decision comes as the conflict in West Asia continues to affect global energy markets and shipping routes, raising concerns about fuel availability and supply chains.
Govt pushes higher LPG production
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has asked oil refineries to increase LPG output and divert additional production for household consumption.
“In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on the supply of LPG, the Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,” the ministry said on X.
To manage demand, the government has also introduced the 25-day inter-booking rule.
“The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing,” the ministry said.
Imported LPG meant for commercial consumption is being directed to essential services first.
“Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions,” the ministry said.
A three-member panel of oil marketing company executives has also been set up to examine requests from restaurants, hotels and other industries.
“For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three EDs of OMCs have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries,” the ministry added.
Officials said unusual booking behaviour had triggered the move.
“There were instances that people who were earlier booking LPG cylinders in 55 Days have started booking cylinders in 15 days,” sources said.
Political reactions and industry concerns
The issue has sparked sharp political reactions.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari blamed the government for the situation.
“First, this government increases the prices of commercial and domestic LPG. The war has been going on for nine or ten days, and there is a gas shortage. Along with this, there is an instruction that domestic gas will not be booked before 25 days in cities. For this shortage, the Petroleum Ministry of the Government of India is entirely responsible,” he told ANI outside Parliament.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the government had ignored warnings about energy risks.
“We wanted a discussion on this in the Parliament yesterday. Rahul Gandhi clearly said that energy security will be under huge crisis. The ruling is instead blaming the opposition. The government is not able to understand the impact of the West Asia crisis. This needs a concrete action, but the whole world is acting, except India,” he said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the matter should be debated in Parliament. “The govt should discuss this issue in Parliament. Because the government is not giving time to discuss this issue, all INDIA alliance MPs are protesting. What are they (govt) fearing? On the occasion of Women’s Day, gas prices were increased. No (BJP) MPs spoke about it or protested on this issue.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant criticised the situation, saying supply is tightening even as prices rise. “Domestic LPG prices have gone up, and its availability is also going down. There is a need to invoke it (Essential Commodities Act, 1955) against this government.”
Another Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Priyanka Chaturvedi, criticised the government’s claims about stock levels.
“We were lied to that we have sufficient stock reserves. The situation today shows that this government is running on God’s grace. They just talk big while the common people are the ones facing the troubles. Within a week, you’ve increased the gas prices even though you said we won’t burden the citizens, but the first thing you did was exactly that…”
Congress MP Rajani Patil also raised concerns about rising costs.
“…The price of the LPG cylinder has been increased by Rs 60, which is a huge burden on the pocket, and inflation is rising. If commercial cylinders do not come to the market, then how will the students living in hostels manage? The ground reality is different from what the govt is saying.”
JMM MP Mahua Maji claimed people in Ranchi were already facing difficulties.
“Long queues can be seen for LPG and petrol in Ranchi, and the public is troubled, thinking what will happen in future,” she said.
She added that despite government assurances, uncertainty remains because of the ongoing conflict.
“There is no guarantee when the conflict will stop. The government should clarify its foreign policy.”
Samajwadi Party MP Neeraj Maurya also raised questions over the reports.
“If this is true, then is the news of shortage false? If yes, then action should be taken against it.”
“If there is a shortage, then it should be immediately resolved wherever the issue is arising,” he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad warned that shortages could worsen.
“Their (govt) panel (three-member panel to examine supply issues) will not be able to prevent this. It will increase day by day, and the shortage of LPG cylinders will affect our economy, inflation will rise badly, and the government will become helpless. They are incapable of doing anything.”
Concerns emerge in cities
In Bengaluru, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya wrote to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri after hotels raised concerns about possible disruption in commercial LPG supply.
“The reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri Ji. The Minister has constituted a high priority panel to ensure LPG supply is uninterrupted to non-domestic users, including hotels,” Surya wrote on X.
In Pune, authorities have temporarily stopped using LPG-based cremation furnaces to conserve gas supply.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishor Ram said the city has 27 crematoriums and LPG is used in 18 of them.
“Crematorium systems have not been disturbed, or there are no breaks in this… We have around 27 crematoriums in the city, with all the facilities. LPG is used in 18 of them… Due to the break in the supply, we are discouraging the use of commercial LPG in these 18 places to prevent the shortage. But we do have other facilities,” he said.
In Mumbai, Sujit, who runs Marathi Tadka hotel in Dadar, said the situation is already affecting restaurants. “Currently, we are facing LPG shortage because of the conflict, which is affecting our business. The vendors who used to supply us with LPG gas are now saying that it is not available… How will we run our business in this situation?… We are discussing it, but we request the government to come up with some solution…”
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has called a review meeting to examine fuel availability and food supply in case tensions in West Asia continue.
Despite the concerns, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India’s energy imports remain stable.
“Energy imports into the country are in full flow from all Non-Hormuz routes. The energy requirements of our citizens are being fully met. India is in a comfortable position. There is no room for anxiety or speculation in this regard,” he said earlier on X.