As fears of a fuel shortage mount due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a mandatory directive across India. The Ministry has strictly prohibited petrol pumps from dispensing fuel into loose or inappropriate containers like plastic bottles and open drums. This move comes after reports of mass “panic buying” in several states, where consumers were found hoarding petrol and diesel at home, posing a massive fire hazard.

The advisory clarifies that India has sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel, and there is no reason for alarm. One fuel station in Tamil Nadu has already been suspended for violating these safety protocols. The government has urged citizens to follow standard safety norms and not disrupt the supply chain by unnecessary stocking. To ensure priority to common citizens, supplies to industrial and commercial segments have been slightly regulated to 80% capacity.

Regarding prices, a senior official confirmed that there is no immediate plan to increase retail petrol or diesel prices. Even as global Brent crude fluctuates, the government is utilizing its strategic reserves and Russian oil imports to shield consumers. The restriction on loose container sales is purely a safety and anti-hoarding measure to ensure orderly distribution at the nearly 1 lakh retail outlets across the country.