New Delhi- Domestic LPG consumers in rural areas can now book a refill cylinder every 25 days, bringing them on par with consumers in urban areas as the government moves to ease restrictions following a significant improvement in LPG supplies.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi said the earlier 45-day booking interval for rural consumers had been relaxed because the supply situation has improved and the backlog of pending LPG refills has come down substantially.
“However, in view of the current LPG supply situation improving and the significant reduction in refill backlog, the central government has relaxed this restriction. Now, all domestic LPG consumers, regardless of urban or rural, can book refills at an interval of 25 days,” Gopi said in a Facebook post.
The Petroleum Ministry has also instructed oil marketing companies (OMCs) to implement the revised booking interval with immediate effect.
The relaxation marks a further easing of measures introduced when the LPG supply chain came under pressure amid disruptions in global energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. During that period, the government had permitted urban consumers to book refills once every 25 days, while rural consumers were required to wait 45 days.
The restrictions were aimed at protecting household LPG availability at a time when international oil and gas flows were facing severe disruptions. The government invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to help prevent hoarding, shortages and uneven distribution of domestic LPG.
The latest decision indicates that the supply situation has stabilised enough for the government to restore a uniform booking cycle across the country. For rural households, in particular, the reduction from 45 days to 25 days could make it easier to maintain regular cooking-gas supplies, especially for families with higher consumption.
The government has also been gradually easing restrictions on commercial LPG supplies. Earlier in June, the Petroleum Ministry directed OMCs to restore supplies of non-domestic packed LPG to normal levels, similar to those prevailing before the energy crisis.
Before that, commercial LPG supplies had been permitted at up to 50 per cent of pre-crisis consumption levels, allowing industries and businesses to continue operations while the government prioritised household LPG requirements.
With domestic LPG availability now improving and refill backlogs declining, the government is progressively rolling back the emergency measures imposed during the supply disruptions.
–IANS