The central government has appointed two senior officers to key positions in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas amid heightened concerns over fuel supplies triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict.
According to official orders, Alok Tripathi, an officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the ministry. A Amarnath of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) has been named Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Joint Secretary level.
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The appointments come at a time when panic buying of LPG cylinders has been reported in several states following concerns over energy supplies linked to the conflict in West Asia.
Long queues were seen outside LPG distribution centres in several states, including Delhi-NCR, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, as consumers rushed to secure domestic gas cylinders.
The surge in demand also forced some eateries to temporarily shut operations, while reports of hoarding circulated in parts of the country.
CENTRE SAYS LPG SUPPLY STABLE
However, the Centre has maintained that there is no shortage of cooking gas in the country. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the petroleum ministry, said domestic LPG production had increased by about 30 per cent since March 5 to ensure uninterrupted supply.
“There is no need for panic booking, and there has been no dry-out at any LPG dealer,” she said.
Officials said LPG bookings have surged to around 75.7 lakh compared with the pre-crisis daily average of 55.7 lakh, indicating panic-driven demand.
WEST ASIA CONFLICT IMPACTS ENERGY ROUTES
The concerns over supply have been fuelled by the disruption of global energy routes following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage between Iran and Oman.
The narrow waterway is among the world’s most critical energy corridors and typically carries a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
OPPOSITION PROTESTS IN PARLIAMENT
Opposition parties also staged protests in the Parliament complex over the reported LPG shortage. Members of the Trinamool were joined by MPs from the Indian National Congress and other INDIA bloc parties, raising slogans and demanding answers from the government.
The MPs questioned the availability of LPG cylinders and sought clarification from Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Puri, however, reiterated that there was no shortage of petroleum products in the country. “There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel or fuel oil. Availability is fully assured,” he said.
The minister added that India had secured sufficient crude supplies through alternative arrangements, even though about 45 per cent of the country’s crude imports earlier transited through the Strait of Hormuz.
He attributed the supply security to diplomatic outreach and diversification of crude sourcing in recent years.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Mar 15, 2026 15:00 IST
