States » EastPosted at: Sep 28 2026 10:36PM


Bengal’s economic progress is our top priority: Hardeep Puri

Kolkata, Sep 28 (UNI) union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday said the economic development of West Bengal was among the government’s top priorities and expressed confidence that the state would regain its position as a major economic centre.
Addressing a programme organised by the Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Puri said the decision to host India Energy Week in Kolkata reflected the Centre’s focus on West Bengal.
“West Bengal would not only revive, but will again take centre stage,” Puri said, adding that he had been informed before the elections about a shortage of LPG for autorickshaws and had directed officials to ensure adequate supplies.
Referring to concerns over fuel availability, the minister said the situation was worsened by what he described as artificial shortages and panic buying. He said around 52 lakh LPG cylinders are normally indented across the country each day during the non-peak season, but the figure rose to nearly 94 lakh amid fears of a shortage.
Puri said reports of long queues for LPG had also emerged during the period. “Yes, there were queues, but those were for making reels,” he said.
The minister also alleged that panic-driven demand and misinformation had contributed to black marketing in some places, which, he said, subsequently led to criticism of the government.
Referring to diesel availability, Puri said there are around 1.07 lakh diesel retail outlets across the country and rejected claims that fuel stations had run dry. He said none of the outlets had actually exhausted their stocks. UNI NN NST CDS
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