west-asia-crisis-sikkim-sets-up-24x7-lpg-war-rooms

The Sikkim government has set up round-the-clock LPG control rooms across the state, including a central facility in Gangtok, to ensure uninterrupted supply amid concerns of disruption due to the ongoing West Asia crisis.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department said the control rooms, operational in all six districts, would monitor distribution, address public grievances, and curb black marketing. The move comes as global supply chains face strain following tensions in West Asia, including the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

To regulate consumption, the state has introduced a refill cycle allowing domestic LPG refills every 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural regions. Authorities said priority would be given to essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions.

Strict enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 has been mandated to prevent hoarding and ensure equitable distribution. Public sector oil companies, including Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, are coordinating with the state government to maintain supply lines.

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At the national level, the Centre has stepped up measures to safeguard energy security. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said refineries are operating at high capacity, supported by adequate crude reserves. Domestic LPG production has also been increased to meet demand.

Efforts are under way to diversify energy access, with companies such as GAIL Gas Limited expanding piped natural gas (PNG) networks to reduce reliance on cylinder-based supply.

Officials said two LPG carriers, transporting approximately 94,000 metric tonnes of fuel, are currently en route to India, which is expected to cushion any immediate supply shocks.

The establishment of control rooms in Sikkim is part of a broader strategy to maintain supply stability and reassure consumers amid global uncertainty, as authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia.