Chandigarh, March 28: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has assured the people of the state that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas, despite the prevailing situation in Central Asia. He urged citizens not to panic, stating that the supply of essential petroleum products remains normal across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister warned against black marketing and hoarding of petroleum products, saying strict action would be taken against anyone found involved. Senior officials, including Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Gupta and other department heads, were also present at the briefing.
Saini said that some people are spreading rumors about shortages due to the ongoing conflict in Central Asia, but the situation in both the country and the state is completely normal. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reducing excise duty on petroleum products, which he said will help keep fuel and gas prices stable for the general public.
He emphasized that during every crisis, Prime Minister Modi has upheld the principle of “Nation First” and has stood firmly with the citizens, whether during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Afghanistan crisis, or other challenging situations. He added that the Prime Minister is in constant touch with global leaders to promote peace and safeguard India’s interests.
The Chief Minister stated that there is sufficient stock of petrol and diesel in the state, with supply levels unchanged compared to four months ago. Haryana currently has 4,032 government petrol pumps, with an average daily sale of 4,804 kiloliters of petrol and 12,003 kiloliters of diesel. Oil companies have increased terminal operations, expedited dispatches, and prioritized morning supply to maintain smooth availability.
Regarding cooking gas, Saini said the situation is fully satisfactory. Around 2 lakh LPG cylinders are received daily, and approximately 1.9 lakh are distributed. Adequate stock is available at bottling plants, and refill norms are being followed—25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas. Special care is being taken to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to hospitals, schools, and other essential institutions.
He added that currently, 1.73 lakh commercial LPG cylinders are in stock. The central government has also structured a 70% allocation system for commercial LPG. Domestic LPG production in the country has been increased from 40% to reduce dependency on imports.
The Chief Minister further informed that strict action is being taken against hoarding and black marketing. As of March 24, authorities have seized 928 LPG cylinders and 4 vehicles, identified 66 accused individuals, and registered 8 FIRs.
Police patrolling has been intensified in sensitive areas, and strict action is being taken against those spreading rumors. To improve gas infrastructure, the government has reduced PNG pipeline lease rent from ?3 lakh per kilometer for 10 years to a one-time ?1,000 per kilometer, which will benefit both gas companies and consumers.
Currently, Haryana has a PNG pipeline network of 28,377 kilometers, which is expected to expand further. The state aims to achieve over 1.33 million PNG connections, out of which more than 5.59 lakh have already been installed.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG in Haryana is stable and there is no need for panic buying. He urged citizens to avoid unnecessary hoarding and cooperate with the government during this time.