Essential Commodities Act invoked by India amid LPG shortage. What does it mean?
India Today
Restaurants, hotels and commercial kitchens in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru have reported difficulty getting commercial LPG cylinders, forcing some establishments to scale down operations or temporarily shut. The situation has pushed the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act
The government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to safeguard cooking gas supplies as reports of LPG shortages are beginning to affect businesses in several cities amid global energy uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict.
Restaurants, hotels and commercial kitchens in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru have reported difficulty getting commercial LPG cylinders, forcing some establishments to scale down operations or temporarily shut.
The situation has pushed the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act, a law that allows authorities to intervene in the supply and distribution of critical goods. The move aims to ensure that domestic cooking gas used by households remains available even if global energy supply chains face disruption.
Global oil prices remain volatile amid the geopolitical tensions. As of 12:52 PM, Brent crude was trading at $92.57 per barrel, down 6.46%, while WTI crude was at $88.46 per barrel, down 6.66%.
The Essential Commodities Act is a law that allows the government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of items considered essential for daily life. These include food items, fuels, fertilisers and medicines.
The law gives the government powers to step in during shortages or supply disruptions. Authorities can control distribution, prevent hoarding, direct companies to increase production and ensure essential goods reach consumers without interruption.
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Speaking in Parliament, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India has adequate fuel stocks, and there is no cause for concern over availability.
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Under law, a domestic household is generally allowed to keep two LPG cylinders of 14.2 kg each at a time. This usually includes one cylinder connected for use and another spare cylinder kept as backup.
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The move comes as global energy markets remain on edge due to escalating tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, which has raised fears of disruptions to crude oil shipments from the Middle East.
India consumes roughly 5.3 to 5.5 million barrels of crude oil every day. However, domestic production is only about 0.6 million barrels per day. This means the country depends on imports for nearly 85% of its oil needs.