Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 4 - The Indian EYE 040326
P. 4

    COVER STORY                                                              APRIL 03, 2026    |  The Indian Eye                    4

                                                   INDIA ENERGY TEST

                                           A REAL

                                        CRISIS?

                Queues on the ground and reassurances from the government highlight a widening gap between
                     perception and reality as global disruptions raise questions about India’s energy security.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            uninterrupted supply and restore
                                                                                                                  confidence.
            Hyderabad/New Delhi/Mumbai
                                                                                                                      Similar scenes and concerns have
               mages  of  long queues  at  fuel                                                                   emerged  elsewhere,  with  reports  of
               stations  and  official  assertions                                                                long queues and heightened anxiety
            Iof “no shortage” are colliding at                                                                    among consumers. In Jammu and
            a time when global energy markets                                                                     Kashmir,  Chief  Minister  Omar  Ab-
            are under stress due to the ongoing                                                                   dullah issued a direct appeal against
            Middle East conflict, raising a critical                                                              panic  behaviour,  warning,  “My  ear-
            question: is the Iran-linked disruption                                                               nest request is that you stop camping
            triggering an energy crisis in India, or                                                              outside petrol pumps otherwise, I will
            merely a crisis of perception?                                                                        shut all the petrol pumps for the next
                On  the  ground,  signs  of  stress                                                               few days.” He acknowledged the situ-
            are visible. In Hyderabad’s Khaira-                                                                   ation as “regrettable,” attributing it to
            tabad  area,  “massive  queues  of  au-                                                               misinformation despite official clarity.
            torickshaws were seen at a gas filling                                                                    At  the  national  level,  however,
            station” as drivers rushed to secure                                                                  the  government  has  firmly  rejected
            fuel. Local drivers reported waiting                                                                  the notion of any supply crisis. The
            for long hours and urged authorities                                                                  Petroleum Ministry has repeatedly
            to “take immediate action to resolve                                                                  stated that “there is no shortage of
            the gas crisis.”                                                                                      petrol,  diesel,  or  LPG  anywhere  in
                In  Parliament,  Narendra  Modi                                                                   the  country,”  emphasising  that  “all
            addressed concerns over fuel short-                                                                   retail outlets are operating normally,
            ages amid the West Asia conflict, as-                                                                 with adequate supplies.”
            suring that India’s energy situation                                                                      Officials have attributed the vis-
            remains stable. He stated that the                                                                    ible queues to panic buying rather
            country  has  “sufficient  crude  oil  re-                                                            than actual scarcity. According to
            serves and robust arrangements for                                                                    the Telangana Civil Supplies Depart-
            continuous  supply,”  highlighting  the                                                               ment, “recent reports of long queues
            expansion of strategic petroleum re-                                                                  and temporary ‘No Stock’ boards…
            serves.  Modi  also  emphasised  that                                                                 are strictly the result of sudden, un-
            India  has  diversified  its  energy  im-                                                             warranted panic buying fueled by
            ports from 27 to 41 countries over the                                                                false rumours.” It added that when
            past decade to reduce dependency on                                                                   consumers  rush  to  fill  tanks  “to  full
            any single region. He underlined that                                                                 capacity, it creates an artificial scarci-
            these measures have strengthened re-                                                                  ty, despite adequate fuel being avail-
            silience,  ensuring  uninterrupted  fuel   Two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, carrying 92,612.59 MT of LPG, have   able.”
            availability despite global disruptions   transited through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels have 33 and 27 Indian seafarers onboard,   The  Centre  has  echoed  this  as-
            and uncertainties in key energy routes   these vessels are destined for India and are likely to reach Ports between 26th & 28th March   sessment. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secre-
            such as the Strait of Hormuz.                                                                         tary in the Petroleum Ministry, said,
                But political reactions have am-                 2026. (Government of India /ANI Photo)           “In  the  last  two  days,  queues  have
            plified these concerns. Bharat Rashtra                                                                been seen outside retail outlets and
            Samithi leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy   bad. Even in Hyderabad, you can see   despite  many  statements,”  he  said,   petrol pumps, and we observed panic
            described the situation as alarming.   huge lines before the petrol pumps   calling for coordination between state   buying… I want to assure the nation
            “The situation on the ground is very   to fill the fuel. The panic is gripping   and central governments to ensure   Continued on next page... >>

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 |