Nagpur: Amid the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply constraints owing to the ongoing West Asia war, a slow decrease has been recorded in the fuel stock for domestic use available with the oil marketing public sector undertakings for supplies in Nagpur district. Since the beginning of the crisis, the three PSU companies – Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) – have been sending daily reports to the respective district administrations.One of the reports accessed by TOI showed that IOCL has a stock that can last for four-and-a-half days as on Friday for Nagpur. This included the cooking gas in transit. BPCL has less than two days of stock, and HPCL has stock that would last for a little more than a couple of days, as per the report put up for Friday. As on March 16, IOCL had stock that would last for five days, as BPCL’s LPG stock was enough to last for a little more than one-and-a-half days (1.7 to be precise), and HPCL’s stock could go for two-and-a-half days.If the stock in transit is discounted, then all the three companies have stocks for one-and-a-half days on an average. However, the replenishment has been constant to maintain the level, said officials.Both oil company officials and gas distributors said it is panic buying that is leading to stock depletion. Restraint by consumers can help in maintaining the levels, they say.An official said LPG cylinder bookings have nearly doubled, which has led to the strain. Even as the stock may be falling, demand remains constant. Even the fresh arrivals continue at the same pace, which means the consumers need not panic, an official said.In Gadchiroli, all the three companies had stock enough for seven days as on Friday. In Bhandara, the stock with the three companies range from one-and-a-half to two days, apart from what is in transit.
