New Delhi: In a huge sigh of relief, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has relaxed petroleum safety and licensing norms to ensure mass distribution of kerosene. Amid the West Asia crisis, which has led to disruptions in oil and gas supplies, the Gazette notification issued by the government on March 29, allows the sale of kerosene through select petrol pumps for a limited period.
The Centre has given the permission to public sector oil marketing companies to allocate Public Distribution System (PDS) superior kerosene oil (SKO) to designated fuel stations in kerosene-free states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
The government order allows designated petrol pumps to store and dispense kerosene to households for cooking and lighting purposes. A single outlet is free to stock up to 5,000 litres, with up to two such service stations identified per district by state governments and Union Territory administrations.
The notification also grants certain exemption to dealers and transport vehicles, easing licensing requirements for dealers and transport. The aim is to speed up storage.
Govt ramps up measures to ensure fuel
The government on Sunday appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying as sporadic rushes were reported at fuel stations in many parts of the country.
The Centre has stepped up measures to secure fuel and gas supplies amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The oil ministry assured that domestic refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and stocks of petrol and diesel remain sufficient nationwide.
“There were certain rumours, which led to panic buying at some retail outlets in a few states, resulting in unusually high sales and heavy crowding at retail outlets. However, it is informed that there are adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps in the country,” it said.