The government on Wednesday announced a 5 per cent hike in natural gas supply to fertiliser units, taking the overall allocation to nearly 95 per cent of their six-month average consumption from April 9. The move comes as the situation in the Gulf eases following the ceasefire, which is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow stranded oil and gas cargo ships to resume movement.

The government said the decision is based on available inventory and scheduled LNG cargo arrivals. It also assured that all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the last 24 hours. The Directorate General of Shipping, along with ship owners, recruiting agencies and Indian missions, continues to closely monitor the situation.

The development coincides with the Union Cabinet approving Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for the upcoming kharif season (April 1 to September 30) on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilisers. The estimated budgetary requirement stands at around Rs 41,533.81 crore, higher than last year's Rs 37,216.15 crore. The move aims to ensure fertilisers remain available to farmers at subsidised and affordable prices, amid fluctuating global prices. Around 28 grades of P&K fertilisers, including DAP, will continue to be provided under the NBS scheme.

In a parallel move to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs, the government has also announced a 25 per cent cut in landing and parking charges for domestic airlines for a period of three months. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the decision is aimed at keeping airfares affordable despite a sharp rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices due to the Middle East crisis.

The Ministry has directed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to implement the reduction at major airports, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will apply the same at non-major airports. The move is expected to reduce airline costs by around Rs 400 crore during the period.

The government said the step is part of a broader effort underPrime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure stable aviation operations and affordable travel, even as global uncertainties continue to impact the sector. It added that the situation is being closely monitored and further measures will be taken if required.

(With inputs from IANS)