The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all states and Union Territories to strengthen security around Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants and closely monitor the supply of cooking gas to prevent hoarding and black marketing. The move comes as the government aims to ensure that households across the country continue to receive an uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders.

Govind Mohan, the Union Home Secretary, held a high-level meeting with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) from all states and Union Territories on Wednesday to review the availability and distribution of LPG in the country. Officials said the meeting focused on ensuring the supply chain of domestic cooking gas remains smooth and that no disruptions affect consumers.

During the meeting, Mohan urged state governments to keep a close watch on local LPG supply on a daily basis. He stressed that authorities must act quickly if they detect hoarding, illegal stockpiling or attempts to manipulate supplies for profit. According to officials, states were advised to enforce strict monitoring of LPG distribution networks and take strong action against individuals or groups involved in black marketing.

Law enforcement agencies have also been asked to keep a close eye on LPG dealers, transporters and storage facilities. The aim is to prevent the diversion of cylinders meant for domestic use to other markets. Authorities believe that careful monitoring at each stage of the supply chain will help ensure that cylinders reach households without interference.

Officials convened the meeting to address concerns about possible disruptions in energy supply chains due to recent geopolitical developments. Although there has been no immediate shortage, the government is getting ready to prevent any situation that could affect LPG availability for domestic users.

Government officials indicated that the Centre is taking preventive measures so that households do not face any shortage of cooking gas. Ensuring a stable LPG supply remains a priority because millions of families depend on it as their primary cooking fuel.

At the same time, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued instructions to oil refineries and public sector oil marketing companies to increase LPG production. These companies have been asked to maximise their output and allocate additional LPG supplies to the domestic market wherever possible.

Refineries have also been directed to speed up their operations and make sure that LPG cylinders are dispatched quickly to distribution centres across the country. Officials said timely transportation and delivery of cylinders are essential to maintain a steady supply, especially to sectors with high demand.

States were asked to work closely with local administrations and oil companies to avoid any disruptions in transportation and last-mile delivery of LPG cylinders. Coordination between state authorities, distributors and oil companies is important to ensure delivery of cylinders  to consumers without delays.

India is one of the largest consumers of LPG in the world. Over the past decade, the government has significantly expanded access to cooking gas, especially among low-income households. A major part of this expansion has come through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides subsidised LPG connections to economically weaker families.

Consequently, the number of households using LPG as their primary cooking fuel has increased significantly. This makes it even more important for authorities to maintain a steady and reliable supply of cylinders across both urban and rural areas.