The oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Tuesday were firmly instructed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to clear the waiting list of new domestic LPG connections within 2 months (60 days) and restore the normal supply of all kinds of fuels across country.

Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, while chairing the review meeting of the OMCs said, “The supply and distribution of essential petroleum products should be restored to the normal position. Adequate supplies must be ensured in the coming festive season.”

R.S. Pandey however, took the OMCs to task for unilaterally putting new LPG connections on hold. It is learnt that he has instructed the OMCs that there should be no disruption in the supplies of LPG across the country.

The Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, which had slowed down on issuing new LPG connections, had been instructed by Pandey to clear the waitlist in two months. Other than this he also announced Grievance Cell to be opened in the Petroleum Ministry.

Sarthak Behuria, the chairman of IOC, said that certain measures have been taken up by the oil industry which aims at supplying the costlier branded fuel at select petrol pumps and stopping new LPG connections. This will help to fight with the huge revenue losses due to high costs of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene prices by the government in line with the costs.

Behuria informed, “We have a waitlist of 6-7 lakh for new LPG connections. We have placed orders for 10 lakh new LPG cylinders to liquidate this waitlist. The consumers will have the choice of normal or branded petrol and diesel at all retail outlets in the country.”