Gas refill booking rules have not changed, no need to panic: Petroleum Ministry

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The government has issued a major clarification regarding ongoing news and social media posts regarding changes to the LPG cylinder booking deadline (refill timeline). The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clearly stated that no changes have been made to the LPG refill booking rules and that the old system remains in effect.

The ministry stated that some news reports and social media posts were claiming that a new deadline of 45 days has been set for booking LPG refills under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), 25 days for non-PMUY single cylinders, and 35 days for double cylinders. The government has termed these claims as completely false and misleading.

The ministry clarified that under the existing rules, the time limit for booking LPG refill is 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas, and it is applicable equally to all types of connections.

The government has appealed to citizens not to believe or spread such rumors. It has also advised against panic booking of gas cylinders.

The ministry assured that the country has adequate LPG stocks and there is no shortage. The government stated that all refineries are operating at high capacity and that 18,700 tons of commercial LPG had been supplied as of Monday.

According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry, there are also adequate stocks of petrol and diesel across the country, and more than 100,000 petrol pumps are operating normally. Additionally, PNG (piped natural gas) connections are being rapidly expanded, with 7,500 new connections granted in just one day.

The government also stated that continuous efforts are being made to strengthen LPG supplies and add new sources. States have been asked to further strengthen monitoring and distribution systems to ensure smooth supply.