West Asia crisis: Hotels, restaurants will be allowed to use kerosene and coal; 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be given to states
New Delhi: In response to the crisis in West Asia, the government has initiated the process of allowing hotels and restaurants to use kerosene and coal as fuel to reduce the pressure on cylinder and piped cooking gas supplies. A limited number of commercial cylinders will also be supplied, for which state governments will be required to prepare a list of beneficiaries based on priority.
In another significant decision on Thursday, the government announced that cooking gas cylinder bookings in rural areas will only be possible at 45-day intervals. Previously, this period was made 25 days for urban areas.
No shortage but panic booking has increased manifold
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said, "We have approximately 25,000 distributors across the country and supply approximately 50 lakh cylinders daily. There are no reports of gas shortages at the distribution level, but panic booking has increased manifold. We urge citizens not to panic book and to conserve fuel wherever possible during this period of global uncertainty."
48,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be given to states
She added that efforts are being made to make fuels other than cooking gas available to consumers to reduce the pressure on LPG and gas. She said, "An order has been issued today under which an additional 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be given to states. Here too, the role of state governments will be crucial in identifying beneficiaries and distributing them."
Use of alternative fuels to be allowed
Ms. Sharma said that the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has also advised State Pollution Control Boards to allow the use of alternative fuels—such as biomass, RDF pellets, kerosene, or coal—in the hospitality and restaurant sectors for one month during this crisis period, so that more establishments can use them and make LPG available to primary consumers.
She added that the Ministry of Coal also issued a letter, directing Coal India Limited and Singareni to allocate increased quantities of coal to states to supply small, medium, and other consumers.
Priority to hospitals and educational institutions
The Joint Secretary stated that hospitals and educational institutions are being prioritized for the use of commercial cylinders. For other consumers, a three-member committee of executive directors of oil marketing companies has been formed and, after reviewing the matter, an important decision has been made to release some commercial cylinders as well.
She explained that the role of state governments will be crucial in this. State governments, through oil marketing companies, have been asked to prepare lists of beneficiaries so that commercial cylinders can be supplied on a priority basis. It also aims to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
1,30,000 Indians have returned home from West Asia
The government stated that 1,30,000 Indians have returned home from West Asian countries so far, and flights are operating from various countries. There were 78 Indian sailors on ships from various countries stranded in the affected areas. 70 of them have been rescued safely, four are injured, and unfortunately, three have died, and one is missing.
The government has stated that more than 20 Indians stationed in West Asia have been injured in the ongoing conflict. Most of them have returned home after treatment, while one or two are in critical condition.
Senior officials from various ministries, speaking at a press conference here on the situation in West Asia, said that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking appropriate steps to address any eventuality. They stated that the supply of gas, petrol, and diesel remains consistent, and there are no reports of any shortages of these commodities from any part of the country. People should not rush to book cylinders and not pay attention to rumors.