NEW DELHI, March 30 -- The Central government has allowed ad-hoc allocation of public distribution system (PDS) kerosene in 21 states and Union Territories, including regions previously classified as kerosene-free, to support household cooking and lighting needs amid global energy supply pressures.
The move follows the month-long war in West Asia, disrupting the energy supply chain, particularly cooking gas LPG.
India imports 60 per cent of its cooking gas needs, 85-90 per cent of which comes from the Gulf countries. The war has stopped those supplies, forcing the curtailment of supplies to commercial users like hotels and restaurants.
While domestic households have been given priority in the supply of the available LPG, the limited stoc...