No shortage of fuel, LPG in State: Nadendla Manohar
Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar on Tuesday assured that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas in Andhra Pradesh. He urged people not to panic over rumours of supply disruptions.
Addressing the media, the Minister said the coalition government has ensured an uninterrupted supply of essential fuels across the State, adding that the situation remains stable, unlike in some other regions. He noted that officials and dealers are reviewing supply and demand daily to avoid any mismatch.
Mr. Manohar said panic-driven booking of nearly five lakh LPG cylinders in recent days had led to a temporary backlog. “The situation is now easing, with around 2.7 lakh cylinders being delivered smoothly. There is no disruption in the supply chain,” he said.
He pointed out that, as per the Centre’s norms, LPG cylinders cannot be rebooked before 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas.
The Minister advised consumers to opt for online booking, stating that the OTP-based delivery system ensures cylinders are supplied directly to households. He also asked people to contact the 1967 call centre for any complaints.
Out of 4,510 fuel retail outlets in the State, only four reported minor supply constraints due to credit-related issues of individual dealers, and not due to any systemic shortage, he said.
Mr. Manohar said the State’s average daily consumption stands at 7,900 kilolitres of petrol and 20,000 kilolitres of diesel, with supplies exceeding demand by 2.4 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively. He appealed to the public not to rush for full-tank refills, assuring that adequate reserves are available.
Highlighting steps taken to improve availability, the Minister said the Centre has raised the quota of commercial LPG cylinders from 10 per cent to 70 per cent, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and hospitals.
He disclosed that 146 cases have been booked against black marketing and illegal hoarding, with 4,285 cylinders seized so far.
The State government, he said, is in constant coordination with oil companies and dealer associations to ensure seamless supply, while real-time data monitoring is being carried out twice daily.
Mr. Manohar added that efforts are underway to expand the piped natural gas (PNG) supply in eligible areas. The government plans to shift one lakh consumers to PNG within three months and eventually cover 10 lakh users.
Consumers, particularly in areas with pipeline access, are being encouraged to switch from LPG to PNG, he said.
Referring to global uncertainties, including tensions in the Gulf region, the Minister said precautionary steps are being taken to ensure there is no impact on supplies.
He also cautioned the public against believing misinformation on social media and said awareness campaigns would be conducted among beneficiaries of the Deepam scheme to promote the use of piped natural gas.