The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday said the government is focusing on expanding domestic piped natural gas (PNG) supply while maintaining that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel in the country. 

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said the government is ensuring uninterrupted PNG supply and is working with states to strengthen infrastructure. "Domestic PNG connection is the government's priority and 100% supply is being made available to the consumers," she said. 

Push for PNG infrastructure

The ministry highlighted steps taken to boost PNG infrastructure, especially in urban areas. In Delhi, authorities have removed road restoration charges to speed up pipeline work, allowing companies to lay pipelines round the clock. 

"In the last 25 days, 2.5 lakh applications for new PNG connections have been received while 2.2 lakh consumers have shifted from LPG to PNG," Sharma said.  

The government is also taking steps to ensure access to cooking fuel for vulnerable sections. Migrant labourers are being prioritised for 5 kg LPG cylinders. Sharma said that 22,000 tonnes of LPG have been allocated across 26 states, with 30,000 small cylinders distributed recently. 

Adequate fuel stocks, action against hoarding

Amid concerns over fuel availability, the ministry urged the public not to panic. Sharma said refineries are operating at optimal capacity, with the ability to process 260 million tonnes of crude oil annually. 

"In last few days we saw long queues at retail outlets and petrol pumps and reports of panic buying. I want to reassure that we have adequate petrol and diesel. There is no shortage anywhere. So, don't believe in rumours and avoid panic buying. Also, I want to point out that there has been no hike in petrol and diesel prices," she said. 

To curb black marketing and hoarding, enforcement agencies have intensified action across states. Sharma said 2,700 raids were conducted recently, leading to the seizure of 2,000 cylinders in states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. 

She also dismissed reports suggesting changes in LPG refill booking timelines, stating that the existing system remains unchanged.