New Delhi: The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has been going on for the past 11 days. Because of the fighting in the Gulf region, the supply of crude oil and natural gas coming to India has been affected. Due to this, a shortage of LPG cylinders, CNG and commercial gas is slowly being seen in many parts of the country, including Maharashtra.
If the war continues for a few more days, the shortage could become worse. To control the situation, the central government has taken an important step. The government has applied the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) across the country to stop hoarding and black marketing of gas and other important goods.
Because of the tension in Gulf countries, fuel supply problems are being felt in many places around the world. In India, people are already facing difficulty in getting gas cylinders for home and business use. In cities like Kolhapur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, people have been seen standing in long queues outside gas agencies as cylinders are not easily available.
To improve the supply, the central government has asked oil refineries and petrochemical companies to increase the production of LPG so that people can get gas cylinders without delay.
What is ESMA Law?
The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1968. This law is used during emergency situations to make sure that important services continue without any break.Under this law, workers connected to important services cannot stop work or go on strike during emergencies.
Services Covered Under ESMA
Important services like public safety, cleaning services, water supply, hospitals and services related to national security come under ESMA. Industries connected with petroleum, coal, electricity, steel and minerals are also included.Apart from this, banking services, public transport, communication services and government departments responsible for food supply and distribution must also follow this law. State governments can also use this law in their areas when needed.