New Delhi, March 13 -- The Centre on Monday invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to divert natural gas to "priority" sectors, with fuel shipments via the Strait of Hormuz now halted due to conflict and with the country's liquefied natural gas reserves in short supply.

The order, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, directed that sectors that directly impact millions of people - piped natural gas (PNG) for households, compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production - would get precedence over other sectors that require natural gas.

Subsequently, Union Petrol and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday announced a 20% cap on the average monthly commercial LPG suppl...