The government has stated that domestic LPG distribution across the country is normal and no dry-out has been reported at any LPG distributors. During the Inter-ministerial media briefing in New Delhi, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma informed that amidst West Asia crisis, the government is making all out efforts to ensure hundred percent supply of domestic LPG to the consumers for cooking and upto 70 percent to consumers of commercial cylinders. She also informed that about 95 per cent of deliveries of LPG cylinders are being done through authentication code. With regard to natural gas, the Joint Secretary informed that about 6 lakh 31 thousand new PNG connections have been gasified and infrastructure has also been created for an additional 2.67 lakh connections. She said, so far six lakh 93 consumers are registred for PNG connections. She added that more than 49 thousand PNG consumers have voluntarily surrendered their LPG connections. Ms Sharma also informed that operations and retail outlets are normal.
Director in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Opesh Kumar Sharma, has said that all Indian seafarers continue to remain safe in the region, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 48 hours. He added that no incidents have also been reported on any foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian seafarers. Mr Sharma informed that the control centre set up at the Directorate General of Shipping has handled 8,570 calls and more than 18,732 emails so far. He further stated that the Ministry, through the Directorate General of Shipping, has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2 thousand 999 seafarers, including 23 in the last 48 hours, from various locations across the Gulf region. He also noted that port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported.
