Govt Says Fertiliser, Fuel Supplies Stable Amid West Asia Tensions; No Price Hike, Flights to Resume Soon

By
Ziraat Times
-

Follow Ziraat Times on Whatsapp - Join Now

Ziraat Times News Desk 

New Delhi, April 27: The Government of India on Monday said fertiliser availability remains “robust” and fuel supplies are stable despite the evolving situation in West Asia, while announcing continued enforcement against LPG black marketing and plans to resume flights from Qatar.

The update came during an inter-ministerial media briefing at the National Media Centre, involving officials from key ministries including petroleum, external affairs, shipping and fertilisers.

Fertiliser stocks strong, prices unchanged

Officials said fertiliser stocks across the country are significantly higher than seasonal requirements ahead of the Kharif sowing season. Against an assessed requirement of 390.54 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), current availability stands at around 190 LMT—about 49%—well above the usual 33% benchmark.

The government highlighted that supplies of key nutrients such as urea, DAP, NPK and potash currently exceed demand by wide margins.

Despite a sharp rise in global fertiliser prices—particularly urea, which has crossed ₹4,000 per bag internationally—the government has kept domestic prices unchanged. Urea continues to be sold at ₹266.5 per bag, while DAP remains at ₹1,350.

Officials said this reflects a policy decision to shield farmers from global volatility through subsidies and diversified imports.

Fuel supply stable, anti-hoarding crackdown intensified

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG, urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on official communication.

To curb hoarding and black marketing, more than 1,800 enforcement raids were conducted across the country in a single day. Oil marketing companies have penalised over 300 LPG distributors and suspended 71 agencies.

Domestic LPG supply has been prioritised, with no reported “dry-outs” at distribution points. Since April 1, around 19.5 lakh 5-kg cylinders have been sold, especially targeting migrant workers.

Auto LPG consumption has also surged, with average daily sales nearly doubling to 346 metric tonnes in April compared to about 177 MT earlier this year.

Push for alternative fuels and PNG expansion

Authorities said efforts are underway to reduce pressure on LPG by promoting piped natural gas (PNG), electric cooking and alternative fuels like kerosene and coal.

Over 5.5 lakh new PNG connections have been activated since March, and infrastructure is being expanded for millions more. Several states have been incentivised to shift towards PNG-based systems.

Refineries are operating at high capacity, and excise duty on petrol and diesel has been cut by ₹10 per litre to cushion consumers from rising global crude prices.

Maritime safety under watch, Indian seafarers safe

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours.

A recent incident involving a Togo-flagged tanker near Oman, carrying 17 Indian crew members, was monitored closely. All personnel were reported safe.

More than 2,700 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, while a control room set up by authorities has handled thousands of distress calls and queries.

Flights from Qatar to resume; outreach to Gulf intensifies

The Ministry of External Affairs said India is maintaining close coordination with countries in West Asia to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.

Flight operations from several Gulf countries are continuing under restrictions, with around 13.19 lakh passengers having travelled to India since late February.

With Qatar’s airspace partially reopening, Air India and IndiGo are planning to resume flights to India soon.

India has also stepped up diplomatic engagement in the region. Ajit Doval visited the UAE this week, marking the second high-level interaction within a month, following a visit by S. Jaishankar earlier in April.

Advisory to citizens

The government urged citizens to conserve energy, avoid unnecessary travel to sensitive regions, and depend on verified information. Indian missions across West Asia remain on alert, operating helplines and assisting nationals as needed.

Officials said the overall situation is being closely monitored, with coordinated action across ministries to maintain supply chains, stabilise markets, and ensure public safety.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

121 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here