New Delhi: The government has directed oil refineries to divert a portion of the feedstock normally used for producing cooking gas (LPG) to industries affected by the ongoing petrochemical shortage, which spans sectors from packaging to condom manufacturing.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, April 1, directed refineries to allocate a portion of propylene to the petrochemical industry, which has been severely affected, as most feedstock has been diverted for cooking gas (LPG) production. At an inter-ministerial briefing on the fallout of developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said following the disruption in India’s LPG supplies from the Middle East due to the war, the government had asked refiners to maximise LPG production so as to meet cooking gas requirements.This maximisation of LPG production was done by diverting streams that were previously used for making petrochemicals.“But then there are certain other sectors which also need some of these molecules and thereby this decision has been taken,” she said.Before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East February 28, India imported about 60 per cent of its LPG consumption, out of which about 90 per cent was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has been effectively shut, impacting supplies of imported LPG in the country.To boost domestic production of LPG, the Government March 9 issued directions to all oil refining companies, including petrochemical complexes, that the entire output of C3 and C4 hydrocarbon streams – such as propane, butane, propylene and butenes – is utilised exclusively for LPG production and supplied only to the public sector oil marketing companies. Refineries were also instructed not to divert these streams for the manufacture of petrochemical products or any downstream derivatives.This led to the stoppage of the supply of propylene, disrupting the plastic manufacturing industry. Production of packaging material was hit, impacting the food and beverage industry as well as the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Even the condom industry ran short of raw material.To meet their demand, the ministry has asked refiners to allocate a portion of propylene to the petrochemical industry =Kollam , April 2: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not “standing up for India” and “bowing down to Israel and America” amid the recent price hike of LPG and other fuels.”LPG and fuel prices are all rising; trade is going to become more difficult under the circumstances. In the middle of all this, what is the policy of our central government under Narendra Modi? He is not fighting for his people. He is not fighting for India. He is not standing up for India. All he is doing is bowing down to America, bowing down to Israel,” Priyanka Gandhi said while campaigning here.The Kollam seat is set to see a triangular contest between the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While the ruling Communist Party (Marxist) is fielding incumbent and two-time MLA M Mukesh, Congress has decided to field Bindu Krishna, while Prathap Kumar is contesting on an NDA ticket.The Congress MP further reiterated the allegations of the Prime Minister being “compromised”, appealing to people to ditch the LDF and NDA, and look for a “new kind of politics”, which might be found in Congress.”Modi is himself compromised; that is why he bows down to Trump. Who is paying for all this? You are paying. You are paying to have to struggle against the price rise. You work hard to educate your children, but they cannot get jobs because job creation has not happened in the last 10 years. What I see is selfish and serving politics. I would like to appeal to you that you need a new kind of politics, governance in your state today,” Gandhi said.”It is your right to educate your children, your right to get jobs, a right for anganwadi and ASHA workers to get better wages,” she added.The prices of LPG cylinders have been revised upward with effect from April 1, with commercial and smaller cylinders witnessing a significant increase across key cities.In Delhi, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has been increased to Rs 2,078.50, marking a rise of Rs 195.50. Meanwhile, the 5 kg FTL cylinder is now priced at Rs 549 per refill, reflecting an increase of Rs 51.Following her public rally in Kollam, Gandhi went to Thiruvanathapuram’s Kavdior, where she highlighted the UDF’s ‘five Indira guarantees’.”I want to ask you to look back at your life over the past 10 years. Has the quality of life improved? Have the health services in Keralam, has this govt (LDF) done anything good in education? I know all of you struggle to educate your children. Most of your children are well educated. Do they have good job opportunities in Keralam? If a young person wants to start their own small business or industry, do they get support from the government? What about your household expenses going up or down? What has this govt done for you in these 10 years? Nothing? Then what should you do now?” the Congress MP asked.”This is just a small part of a larger vision to build Kerala into a much better place, with a much better future. With these five guarantees, I am looking to give you some relief from your struggles,” Gandhi said.”First is women across Kerala will be given free bus travel, wherever they want to go. The Congress has implemented this in Karnataka very successfully. Rs 3,000 of pension will be given to elderly and vulnerable people. If you are a young man or woman who wants to start their own business, the government will give a Rs 5 lakh loan interest-free. Every household will get 25 lakh health insurance,” she added.Earlier in the day, the Congress-led UDF alliance unveiled its manifesto for the Kerala Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in exactly a week.Leader of Opposition and Congress leader VD Satheesan, along with other United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, released the party’s election manifesto.Polling for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections will be held on April 9, with the counting of votes on May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is set to conclude on May 23.
