Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 24: Amid concerns regarding potential fuel shortages due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, officials have clarified that fuel supply in Karnataka remains completely stable. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Bengaluru and various Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) held a press conference to reassure the public against panic buying.
Siddharth Agarwal, executive director of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and nodal officer for Karnataka OMCs, stated that the state possesses a refining capacity of 15 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum). He emphasized that there is currently no shortage in the supply of petrol or diesel.
Addressing the LPG situation, Agarwal noted that while panic buying in March saw demand spike to 3.75 lac cylinders per day, the situation has now stabilized with daily bookings dropping to 3.06 lac. He added that priority is being given to hospitals, educational institutions, and the transport sector for commercial LPG supplies.
To discourage black-marketing, officials advised the general public to utilize 5 kg cylinders, priced between Rs 550 and Rs 600, which are particularly beneficial for the economically weaker sections and migrant workers.
The state government, in coordination with oil companies, has conducted over 3,700 inspections to curb hoarding. Consequently, 35 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered, and 37 individuals have been arrested on charges of black-marketing.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, general manager of GAIL, advocated for the increased use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG), noting it as a cost-effective and convenient alternative. He informed that 5.01 lac connections have already been provided.
To address the concerns of auto-rickshaw drivers, measures have been taken to boost the supply of auto LPG. Currently, there are 67 public sector auto LPG stations in the state, supplemented by over 300 private outlets. Despite the public sector oil companies holding only a 20% market share in this segment, efforts are underway to meet the rising demand.