Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has confirmed that LPG cylinder delivery remains normal across the country with no reports of shortages. According to official data, approximately 7500 consumers have recently shifted from LPG to Piped Natural Gas (PNG). While geopolitical tensions remain a concern, the government has successfully managed to reduce panic bookings, with 55 lakh refill requests recorded on March 19, 2026.
What are the new rules for LPG and PNG connections?
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued the LPG Amendment Order 2026 to optimize fuel distribution. Under these rules, individuals with a PNG connection are prohibited from keeping or obtaining domestic LPG connections. This measure ensures that LPG cylinders are available for those who do not have access to piped gas. To further streamline the process, the government has introduced the following measures:
- LPG cylinders are now delivered only after verification through an authentication code.
- Booking intervals are fixed at 25 days for urban areas and 45 days for rural regions.
- Over 1.25 lakh new PNG connections were provided to domestic and industrial users in the last two weeks.
- Consumers are advised to rely only on door delivery systems and official information.
How is the government monitoring fuel supply and hoarding?
To prevent black marketing and ensure steady supply, 32 states and Union Territories have established dedicated control rooms. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) has been designated as the nodal agency to track energy stocks nationwide. On March 19 alone, officials conducted 4500 raids across India, including 1100 in Uttar Pradesh, to check for irregularities. Oil Marketing Companies also carried out 1800 surprise inspections at various distributorships. Currently, 18 states have issued allotment orders for commercial LPG, with 11300 tons supplied to consumers in the last week to maintain sufficient stock levels.
