LPG Crisis:Reports of LPG cylinders being sold in the black market are emerging from several parts of India as the Middle East conflict disrupts global energy supply chains. The war involving Iran and Israel has affected fuel shipments from the Gulf region, triggering supply concerns and panic buying in some Indian cities.
According to market reports, shortages have pushed LPG prices sharply higher in the black market. Many street vendors in Delhi-NCR are struggling to find cooking gas cylinders even at the higher prices and are forced to either curtail their businesses or completely shut them down.
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Because essential services such as hospitals and schools are being prioritised for gas supply, several restaurants have reportedly been forced to either buy domestic cylinders illegally or pay very high prices for commercial cylinders — sometimes Rs 3,200 to Rs 5,000 per cylinder.
Fear of a possible supply disruption has also led many households to book LPG refills earlier than usual. This sudden surge in demand has put additional pressure on the supply chain and allowed illegal traders to sell cylinders at inflated prices.
Cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar have reported long queues at LPG agencies, while some restaurants say they have temporarily shut operations due to lack of cooking gas.
To stop hoarding and black marketing, the government has taken several steps.
Authorities have invoked the Essential Commodities Act to monitor supply and prevent illegal trading of cylinders.
Oil companies have also introduced a 25-day gap between domestic LPG bookings so that households cannot book multiple cylinders within a short period.
At the same time, refineries have been asked to increase production for domestic consumption.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
