A worker arranges LPG cylinders inside a godown as demand for cooking gas intensifies, in Mumbai on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Against the backdrop of the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict and concerns about potential disruptions in global energy supply chains, the Maharashtra government has initiated a series of measures to ensure the uninterrupted availability of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders across the state.
The government has also decided to set up special monitoring committees at the district level to prevent disruptions in supply and manage the situation in the event of a potential shortage.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department said the state currently has adequate LPG supplies and there is no shortage of domestic cooking gas. However, as a precautionary measure in view of the evolving geopolitical situation, authorities have been directed to closely monitor the LPG supply chain and ensure smooth distribution.
Additional Chief Secretary of the department, Anil Diggikar, has instructed all concerned agencies to take necessary steps to maintain uninterrupted LPG availability across Maharashtra and to keep strict control over the supply system.
The department has also sought to reassure citizens that domestic LPG supply will remain stable and that there is no need for panic buying or hoarding of gas cylinders.
Committee for Mumbai
As part of the preparedness plan, the government will establish district-level committees comprising the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, District Supply Officer and officials from government-owned oil and gas companies. These committees will monitor the LPG supply chain, ensure law and order, review the situation daily and submit regular reports to the state-level control room.
In the Mumbai–Thane rationing region, a separate committee will operate under the Controller of Rationing. This committee will include the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Controller (Rationing), while the Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) will coordinate with all Deputy Commissioners across Mumbai and Thane.
Authorities have also been asked to explore alternative fuel options in case of supply constraints. Options such as coal and kerosene may be considered for certain sectors, provided strict compliance with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board regulations is ensured. District committees have also been instructed to consult with hotel and restaurant associations to assess the feasibility of using alternative fuels, if required.
Essential Services
The government has said that priority LPG supply will be ensured for essential services. These include hospitals, government hostels, mess facilities in government schools and colleges, the mid-day meal programme, government ashram schools and community kitchens. A list of such institutions will be prepared, and a dedicated priority supply mechanism will be implemented.
To prevent rumours and misinformation about gas availability, the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, along with district administrations, will issue daily updates on radio, FM channels, television, and print media. Authorities have also warned that action will be taken against individuals spreading false information or fake news about LPG shortages on social media.
Demand & Supply
According to the state government, Maharashtra’s average daily LPG demand is around 9,000 metric tonnes. To strengthen supply security, refinery production has been increased from about 9,000 metric tonnes to nearly 11,000 metric tonnes over the past two days.
Authorities said this enhanced production capacity ensures sufficient LPG is available to meet domestic demand.
In the case of commercial LPG, supply priorities have been aligned with central government guidelines, with essential services such as hospitals, school meal programmes, ashram schools, community kitchens and institutional mess facilities receiving priority allocation.
Officials also said that adequate stocks of piped natural gas (PNG), petrol and diesel are available in the state. Refineries are operating at full capacity and are currently meeting the daily demand of around 15,000 kilolitres of petrol and 38,000 kilolitres of diesel.
Published on March 13, 2026