Connect with us

Politics

Centre assures ‘adequate energy stocks’ amid supply concerns over Iran-US war

 Petrol and diesel stocks continued to be adequate at retail pumps across the country, the petroleum ministry said on Saturday, even as a panel of Union ministers overseeing supplies — gas to fertilisers — assessed measures to boost availability amid the West Asian war, defence minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and JP Nadda during a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. (X/@rajnathsingh). Distribution of LPG cylinders, used by 333 million households for daily cooking, has remained “normal” with outlets delivering about 5.4 million refills on Friday, the petroleum ministry said in a statement.. ALSO READ | 2 Indian LPG tankers reach ports, 2 more en route from Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, allocation of LPG for commercial use, initially pared to shield households, has gone up to “70% of pre-crisis levels”, the ministry said. The total commercial share includes 20% allocation on priority to restaurants, hotels, industrial canteens and food processing as well as dairy units.. Iran has all but shut the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against strikes by the US and Israel, choking off global energy supplies and driving prices.. India imports 90% of its crude, half of its liquefied natural gas and two-thirds of its LPG, most of which come from the Gulf countries via the strait. The country is the world’s second-largest LPG importer, consuming 33.15 million tonnes of the liquefied gas.. A panel of ministers — the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM), set up to monitor the West Asia situation and recommend proactive measures — monitoring supplies met “today to review the risks to energy supplies, domestic availability of essential commodities, critical infrastructure resilience and robustness of India’s supply chains”, the defence minister said in his X post.. The meeting, chaired by Rajnath Singh, was attended by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri, power minister Manohar Lal, JP Nadda (chemicals and fertilisers), Prahlad Joshi (consumer affairs), K Ram Mohan Naidu (civil aviation), Kiren Rijiju (parliamentary affairs) and Jitendra Singh (science and technology). Seven empowered groups of secretaries made sectoral presentations to the IGoM. Singh directed the secretaries’ groups to adopt a “medium to long-term preparedness approach” and ensure swift decision-making.. The government has imposed an export tax of ₹21.5 per litre on diesel and ₹29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel, a measure to trim shipments out of the country, the energy ministry said.. The government has asked consumers not to resort to “panic buying”, which is taking place in some areas. Rumours have led to people piling up at some retail gas stations in a few states and this has only spiked sales, the statement said. All ministries and departments have been directed to share information, developments and advisories through the MIB WhatsApp Channel to co 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Two more India-flagged LPG tankers safely transit Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict

 Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day’s supply of the country’s cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores in the next couple of days.. Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, reached Indian ports between March 26 and March 28. Prior to that, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG, had reached Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16 and Kandla port in the state on March 17, respectively. (Deendayal Port Authority Kandla). “Two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying a combined LPG cargo of about 94,000 tonnes, have safely transited the region and are moving towards Indian shores,” an official statement said.. While BW TYR is proceeding towards Mumbai with an expected arrival on March 31, BW ELM is en route to New Mangalore with an estimated arrival date of April 1.. The US and Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran’s sweeping retaliation have all but halted shipping through the strait – the narrow shipping lane that is a conduit for oil and gas exports from Gulf countries to the world. Iran, however, last week said “non-hostile vessels” may transit the waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.. Previously, four Indian-flagged LPG tankers had safely sailed through the strait.. Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, reached Indian ports between March 26 and March 28. Prior to that, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG, had reached Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16 and Kandla port in the state on March 17, respectively.. For a country that relies on imports from Gulf nations to meet as much as 60 per cent of its cooking gas needs, the arrivals will help ease the worst LPG shortage it is battling in decades. India consumed 33.15 million tonnes of LPG last year, with imports accounting for about 60 per cent of demand. As much as 90 per cent of those imports came from West Asia.. With the strait all but shut, it is sourcing LPG from nations like the US and Argentina.. “A total of 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region,” the statement said.. Originally, there were 28 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz when the war in West Asia broke out. Of these, 24 were on the West side of the strait and four on the East side. In the last few days, six vessels from the west side and two from the east have managed to sail to safety.. Besides the six LPG tankers, the Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, with 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, reached Mundra on March 18.. Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, had previously safely crossed the strait and is en route to Tanzania.. LPG carriers Jag Vikram, Green Asha and Green Sanvi are still in the western Strait of Hormuz. One empty vessel is being filled with LPG.. The DG Shipping control room is operating round-the-clock and has handl 

Continue Reading

Politics

UP woman receives ₹10 crore in bank account due to error. Here’s what she did next

 A woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri ditrict was taken aback when she received a text message from her bank while working in the fields on the day of Ashtami during Navratri. Her bank account showed figures which were not normal. Sita, who is a farmer and runs a small grocery shop in Devganj village in the Bichwan area, along with her son went to the bank to know more.. Sita received nearly ₹10 crore in her bank account but did not take out a single penny, receiving praise from locals and neighbours. (Screengrab from viral video). The bank was closed as it was a holiday. She then went to check the balance of her Bank of India account in the nearby ATM where received the greatest shock of her life. The balance figure in her account was close to ₹10 crore, ₹9,99,49,588 to be precise.. Both mother and son were delighted by this sudden transfer of money into the account and made a video which has since then gone viral. However, the woman was still not sure how this big an amount was transferred into her account?. Also Read: UP govt cancels ₹25,000-crore MoU with Puch AI citing lack of net worth. As a result, she went against the idea of taking out the money from the account untill there was more clarity on where the money came from. She did not take out a single penny and came back to the field and resumed working.. The woman also told her family that no money should be taken out of the account until the matter is investigated, Hindustan newspaper reported.. According to another report, Sita has received praise from her neighbours and family members for not touching the money despite such a huge number transferred in her account.. In an interview given to Bharat Samachar, the woman said that she only had ₹45,000 in her bank account and she would come to the bank the next day to ask them to take the money back as it does not belong to her.. Hindustan newspaper, in another report, quoted the branch manager of Bank of India, Sultanganj, Pushpendra Singh, who said that upon checking the woman’s account, the claimed balance was not found. He added that the displayed balance was due to a lien marked against a loan account. No money was credited to the woman’s account, he added. 

Continue Reading

Politics

‘No eating fish or eggs if BJP comes to power’: Mamata’s fresh barb ahead of Bengal polls

 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said at a rally on Sunday that people would be stopped from eating fish and other meat items if the BJP comes to power in the state.. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a gathering during a public meeting. (PTI/X via @AITCofficial). “Fish is not eaten in BJP-ruled states. If the BJP comes, you won’t be able to eat meat or eggs. BJP is one-sided, they don’t believe in any religion,” the TMC supremo said at a rally in Purulia.. Sharpening her attacks on the BJP, Mamata said that Bengali-speaking people are attacked in other states and alleged that the ruling party at the Centre grabs power by “inciting riots”.. “These people incite riots. They come to power by inciting riots, they come to power by killing people… The most attacks on tribals, attacks on women happen in BJP-ruled states… Our Bengali-speaking people are attacked in other states. We don’t oppress anyone,” she said.. Voting in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases. The first phase is set for April 23, while the second phase will be held on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. 

Continue Reading

Politics

3 killed, 1 injured as motorcycles collide head-on in Rajasthan

 Three people were killed and another injured after two speeding motorcycles collided head-on in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district on Sunday, police said.. The accident took place around 9 am on National Highway-148D (Bhilwara–Tonk) (Representative photo/ Getty). The accident took place around 9 am on National Highway-148D (Bhilwara–Tonk). Due to the impact, both motorcycles were completely shattered, and all four riders were thrown nearly 100 metres away, police officers said.. “Two motorcycles carrying four persons collided head-on due to high speed. Vishal Singh, Narendra and Jitendra died on the spot, while Rahul sustained serious injuries,” Jahazpur police station in-charge Lokpal Singh said.. Rahul was taken to Jahazpur Hospital by locals with the help of an ambulance, where he is currently undergoing treatment. After the incident, a large crowd gathered at the spot, and police reached the scene to bring the situation under control.. Police shifted the bodies to the mortuary and informed the families. “The bodies have been kept in the mortuary, and postmortem will be conducted after the arrival of the relatives,” Lokpal Singh added.. Preliminary investigation suggests that over speeding led to the accident, and further probe is underway. 

Continue Reading

Politics

TVK’s Vijay to contest Tamil Nadu elections from 2 seats, Perambur and Trichy East

 Actor-politician Vijay has announced that he will contest from two seats in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls for his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).. Unveiling an agenda for youth, which he described as a “guarantee,” Vijay promised, among other things, steps toward a drug-free Tamil Nadu. (ANI). The two seats will be Perambur and Trichy East. Vijay will face DMK’s sitting MLA RD Shekar, who will contest from Perambur. He is also pitted against the sitting MLA and DMK candidate Inigo Irudayaraj in Trichy East.. “It will be C Joseph Vijay,” he said at a party rally in the state capital Chennai while announcing his candidature.. Vijay also named TVK candidates for other seats, with all of his core team members finding a place in the list. Elections to 234 Assembly segments in the state will be held on April 23.. Senior party leaders and Vijay’s inner team members—N Anand, Adhav Arjuna, R Arunraaj, CTR Nirmal Kumar and KA Sengkottaiyan —were named by the party chief as TVK candidates for seats including T Nagar, Villivakkam, Gobichettipalayam and Thirupparankundram.. Reiterating that the electoral fight was between his “people’s alliance TVK and Stalin sir alliance,” he slammed the ruling DMK-led bloc as a mere “patch-up.”. “I have selected as candidates those who would stand with people,” he said.. Unveiling an agenda for youth, what he described as “guarantee,” Vijay promised, among others, steps for a drug-free Tamil Nadu and a collateral-free loan guarantee up to ₹20 lakh from Class 12 to PhD. 

Continue Reading

Latest News

Politics47 minutes ago

Two more India-flagged LPG tankers safely transit Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict

 Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day’s supply of the country’s cooking gas, have safely navigated through the...

Politics2 hours ago

UP woman receives ₹10 crore in bank account due to error. Here’s what she did next

 A woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri ditrict was taken aback when she received a text message from her bank while...

LifestyleNews3 hours ago

Three historic journeys that begin in Amritsar

 ​Located in the heart of Punjab, one of India’s most historically and culturally significant cities, Amritsar has long been a...

Politics3 hours ago

‘No eating fish or eggs if BJP comes to power’: Mamata’s fresh barb ahead of Bengal polls

 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said at a rally on Sunday that people would be stopped from eating fish...

Video4 hours ago

Clocks spring forward an hour for British Summer Time. #BBCNews 

[embedded content] 

Tech4 hours ago

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for March 29, #1744

​Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and...

Tech4 hours ago

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for March 29, #1022

​Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and...

Tech4 hours ago

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for March 29 #756

​Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers...

Tech4 hours ago

Last Chance to Buy the Kids’ Favorite Nex Playground Before It Gets a Price Hike

​Starting April 1, the movement-based gaming console Nex Playground will cost $299, a $50 increase from its original $249 price....

Politics4 hours ago

3 killed, 1 injured as motorcycles collide head-on in Rajasthan

 Three people were killed and another injured after two speeding motorcycles collided head-on in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district on Sunday, police...

Trending News

Join Our Newsletter

Stay updated with breaking news and exclusive content.