The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken significant steps by requesting the Union government and a private company to respond to a troubling petition from six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributors. These distributors are pushing for a boost in the supply of cooking gas cylinders for households, highlighting a pressing issue in the current energy landscape.

During a hearing on Thursday, Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode expressed their concern over the serious nature of the situation. The petitioners argue that domestic supply has been overshadowed by prioritization of exports, a claim that has surfaced amid a growing LPG shortage linked to ongoing energy crises stemming from conflicts in West Asia.

Confidence Petroleum India Limited, a Nagpur-based firm, is at the center of this controversy. The petitioners allege that despite directives from the Union government to prioritize domestic distribution, the company has failed to ramp up household LPG cylinder supplies. They claim that the disruption in the LPG supply chain, especially in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, is creating significant hardships for consumers.

According to the petition, the situation is dire, with many families across the country suffering due to the inadequacy of LPG availability. The distributors referenced an order from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dated March 9, mandating all refineries to utilize their full production capacity for LPG, which should then be made accessible to public sector oil marketing companies. This order, they argue, has not been adequately implemented, leading to their current predicaments.

As the court awaits responses, the stakes are high. Consumers are looking on, anxious about whether the government will take decisive action to resolve these supply issues or if they will continue to grapple with shortages that have already begun to affect daily life.