West Asia Conflict: Centre asks states to take strict action against fuel hoarding, black marketing

The Centre on Wednesday directed state governments to take strict action to prevent hoarding and black marketing of fuel as concerns grow over global supply pressures.

The directive was conveyed during a meeting between the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police from all states and Union Territories.

Speaking at a media briefing later in the day, C Senthil Rajan, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said "It was emphasized in meeting with that state governments take action to prevent hoarding and blackmarketing."


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Rajan said states have also been asked to appoint a spokesperson in each state to ensure that verified information is communicated clearly and regularly to the public.

The joint secretary also appealed to media organisations to work together with authorities and help curb the spread of misinformation.

“We appeal to media organisations to work in partnership with local authorities to amplify and present accurate information from the ground,” Rajan said.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refining) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India’s crude oil supply remains secure despite tensions in the region that have raised concerns about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

She said the country’s daily crude consumption stands at around 55 lakh barrels and supplies have been secured beyond what would normally arrive through the Strait during this period.

According to her, about 70% of India’s crude imports are currently coming through alternative routes, while two additional cargoes are already on their way to further strengthen supplies.

Consumers across India go into panic-mode

Long queues have been reported outside LPG distribution centres in cities including Noida, Lucknow, Pune, Nagpur and Bhubaneswar, with consumers waiting for hours to collect cooking gas cylinders.

Similar scenes were reported from parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Noida and Gorakhpur, where residents lined up outside distribution centres amid fears of a shortage. In some cases, buyers said they had been waiting since early morning to secure a refill cylinder.

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Disruptions in online booking systems have also added to the rush at gas agencies in certain cities.

In Lucknow, for instance, consumers queued up outside distributor offices after digital booking systems temporarily stopped functioning, forcing many to visit agencies in person.

Distributors in Delhi, meanwhile, reported a sudden surge in demand for cylinders in recent days, which they attributed partly to panic booking by consumers worried about possible supply disruptions.