No dearth of LPG in country: Dinsha Patel

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) There is no dearth of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country and supplies to distributors are being made by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) through indigenous production and imports in accordance with the demand, State Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dinsha Patel said today.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister added however, OMCs had reported backlog in LPG supplies in certain states, due to a combination of factors like reduction in supply of bulk LPG compared to the target of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Essar Oil Ltd in Jan-Feb this year, delay in movement of bulk LPG by rail from Jamnagar to the northern region, increased demand in the states due to severe cold which resulted in panic booking, strikes by contract labour, agitational activities, delays in berthing of vessels at Haldia Port due to reduced draft, bandhs ec.

''The Goverment has advised OMCs to liquidate the backlog in the country by operating the bottling plants on holidays and during extended hours. Increased bottling is also done during the working days for Early Clarence of backlog,'' Mr Patel said.

UNI RT BJR KN1330