India’s cooking gas distribution network has long been plagued by a quiet crisis – subsidised LPG cylinders meant for households routinely ended up in the black market, diverted by unscrupulous delivery personnel and agents. With the LPG crisis now deepening due to the US-Iran war, the government’s answer to this is deceptively simple – an OTP.

The Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) is a one-time-use code used to verify the legitimacy of home LPG cylinder delivery, ensuring the cylinder reaches the rightful customer. When a booking is made, the customer receives the code on their registered mobile number, which must be shown to the delivery person before the cylinder changes hands.

Ever since the crisis began, the government has significantly scaled up this system, with DAC coverage now reaching nearly 72 percent of deliveries, up from 53 percent earlier. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil companies to ensure the DAC system is used in at least 80 percent of LPG deliveries, making OTP verification mandatory for the majority of cylinders.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have introduced the DAC system – sent via SMS and shared with delivery personnel – to ensure verified delivery, with IVRS/SMS refill booking also implemented nationwide, providing alerts at key stages including booking, cash memo generation, and delivery.

If distributors fail to meet the DAC requirement, the system flags cylinders as still in the agency’s inventory even though they have been delivered -creating a digital paper trail that exposes irregularities and improves transparency across the supply chain.

Consumers can ensure they receive DAC codes by taking these steps:

– Link your mobile number to your LPG consumer ID via your distributor or the Indane/HP/Bharat Gas app.

– Book via IVRS by calling your provider’s helpline – the DAC is sent automatically via SMS upon booking.

– Update details online at iocl.com or your respective oil company’s portal.

– Visit your distributor with photo ID and consumer ID if SMS is not being received.

– If the OTP does not arrive, customers can show their Aadhaar card as an alternate identity verification to receive the cylinder.

With the government pushing toward an 80 percent DAC compliance target, the system represents a low-cost, high-impact fix to a problem that has cost the exchequer significantly. For millions of households, it also means the subsidised cylinder they paid for will actually reach their doorstep.

New Delhi, March 19: India’s thermal power plants have adequate coal stocks of around 53.41 million tonnes which are adequate for nearly 23 days at the present rate of consumption, and further stocks are also being built up at the pitheads of coal mining companies as a proactive measure to meet any exigency amid the disruption in oil and gas supplies due to the Iran war, the Ministry of Coal said on Thursday.

The pithead coal stock at the mines of Coal India Limited (CIL), which was 106.78 million tonnes (MT) as on April 1, 2025, has grown to about 125.54 MT as on March, 18, 2026. Further, there is around 5.75 MT of coal at the mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and another 15.75 MT coal at the mines of captive/commercial mines and about 12 MT in transit and about 5.49 MT in ports and good-shed sidings, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

Coal is continuing to ensure reliable baseload power to support core industries such as steel and cement that underpin the economic growth of the country. The coal production in the country continues at a pace matching the prevailing demands of the consumer and building adequate stocks at the mine-end for maintaining adequate supplies to the consumers as per their requirements, with the continued support of Railways, the statement said.

Coal India Limited is taking adequate measures to ensure the supply of coal to all consumers, including small, medium, and other consumers. As a proactive step, CIL has planned 29 e-auctions in the month of March, offering about 23.56 MT of coal. Out of these 29 auctions, 5 auctions have already been conducted since March 12, wherein 73.1 lakh ton of coal was offered, and 31.96 lakh ton of coal has been booked, indicating adequacy of coal offered in the e-auctions, the statement said.

In addition to this, CIL has also taken necessary action to ensure coal availability to the small, medium and other consumers through the State Nominated Agencies (SNAs) route and requested the state governments to provide the additional coal requirement, which can be met in full to avoid any energy shortages. The coal offtake of the states through the SNAs is being constantly monitored by CIL to ensure that uninterrupted supplies are ensured, the statement said.

The Ministry of Coal is ensuring a performance-driven ecosystem through sustained policy facilitation, robust monitoring mechanisms, and proactive stakeholder engagement. These concerted efforts are aimed at providing reliable coal availability, enabling uninterrupted operations across critical sectors, and effectively meeting the nation’s growing energy demands, the statement added.

A massive fire broke out at a furniture market in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, on Thursday morning, gutting several shops and triggering panic in the area. The blaze was reported from a warehouse located inside the Chamunda Complex near Kasheli Bridge, a busy commercial stretch known for furniture storage and trade.

According to information shared by Media on X, flames quickly spread across the premises, fuelled by highly flammable materials stored inside the warehouse.

Officials from the Regional Disaster Management Cell said the fire was reported at approximately 11:30 am. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the site, drawing the attention of nearby residents and traders.

The warehouse, primarily used for storing furniture, bore the brunt of the damage. Several adjoining units were also affected as the fire intensified before emergency teams could fully contain it.

Firefighting operations were launched immediately after the incident was reported. Personnel from the local fire department reached the spot with two fire engines, while the Thane Fire Department deployed a jumbo water tanker to assist in dousing the flames.

Officials confirmed that teams are actively working to bring the situation under control. Efforts are ongoing to prevent the fire from spreading further within the complex.

Authorities have stated that, as of now, no injuries or casualties have been reported. However, significant damage to property is feared, given the scale of the blaze and the nature of goods stored in the affected units.

The Bhiwandi Fire Control Centre continues to monitor the situation closely, with multiple teams engaged in containment efforts.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. Officials have said that further details will emerge once the situation is fully under control and a preliminary assessment is carried out.

Meanwhile, local authorities have urged residents to avoid the area to ensure smooth emergency operations.