CCS Meet: PM Reviews Situation During Ongoing West Asia Conflict
Meeting focuses on energy supplies, fertilisers and safety of Indians abroad.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the situation in the context of the ongoing West Asia conflict and measures taken by various ministries and departments. This was the fourth special CCS meeting on the issue.
The extended CCS meeting was attended by permanent members — defence minister Rajnath Singh, Union home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. According to official sources, chemicals and fertilisers minister J.P. Nadda, commerce minister Piyush Goyal, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal and petroleum minister Hardeep Puri attended the meeting as special invitees.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after the meeting said the Cabinet secretary T.V. Somnathan briefed the CCS about the present geopolitical situation. He spoke about the initiatives taken to ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products, including LNG, LPG and fertilisers. He said that sources for the procurement of LPG have already been diversified and the overall stock and supply position of major petroleum products remain adequate.
"Availability of adequate crude oil has enabled Central public sector enterprise (CPSE) refineries to operate at utilisation levels exceeding 100 per cent, ensuring continued production of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products. Initiatives have also been taken to expand piped natural gas (PNG) connections, which have resulted in a substantial increase in PNG connections. The government is also facilitating industrial substitution of LPG through expansion of the National Gas Grid, augmentation of LNG import and regasification infrastructure, expansion of city gas distribution networks, and time-bound pipeline and last-mile connectivity approvals under the Pipeline Infrastructure Order 2026," read the PMO statement.
During the meeting, requirements for the fertilisers for the ensuing Rabi season were assessed and alternate sources of fertilisers were also discussed. The Prime Minister, according to the PMO statement, said that all measures should be taken for ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers.
The hardships faced by Indian seafarers serving on domestic as well as foreign-flagged vessels in conflict zones were also deliberated during the meeting. Mr Modi directed to establish a mechanism to provide timely information, emergency assistance and counselling to seafarers and their families.
The Prime Minister, according to the PMO statement, said that all efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens as well as the Indian diaspora from the impact of this conflict. He said that in order to ensure energy independence, emphasis should be made on renewable energy sources, including solar energy and other non-fossil-fuel-based sources.
The Prime Minister emphasised the whole-of-government approach to tackle the challenges arising due to the geopolitical crisis. "Mr Modi said that a unified coordinated mechanism be put in place for regular monitoring of all the developments to ensure expeditious implementation of appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of the citizens," read the PMO statement.
