Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in key sectors including petroleum, crude oil, gas, power and fertilisers amid the evolving conflict in West Asia.
The meeting, held in the national capital, focused on ensuring uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution of essential resources across the country. Senior ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, J P Nadda, S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri and Nirmala Sitharaman, were present.
The government said proactive measures are being taken to safeguard energy security and maintain adequate availability, while closely monitoring global developments to protect both consumers and industry.
As part of immediate steps, commercial LPG allocation to states has been increased, with priority given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. States have also been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial users. Authorities are simultaneously conducting raids across states and Union Territories to curb LPG hoarding and black marketing.
Officials said port operations across the country remain normal, with no congestion reported. In a boost to supplies, an LPG cargo ship from the United States recently arrived at the New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru. The Shipping Ministry has also waived cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG between March 14 and March 31 to ease supply pressures.
During an inter-ministerial briefing, Shipping Ministry Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said all Indian vessels and crew members in the Persian Gulf region are safe, with no maritime incidents reported in the last 24 hours.
The review comes as tensions in West Asia continue to disrupt global trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, impacting energy markets. In the backdrop of the crisis, industrial diesel prices have risen sharply by around 25 per cent.
The government reiterated that it is closely monitoring developments in the Gulf region, with the safety of Indian citizens and stability of essential supplies remaining top priorities.