Bhubneswar: Odisha Government in the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare in Odisha has launched a massive overdrive against the black marketing and hoarding of liquefied petroleum gas to protect consumers from artificial scarcity.
Under the direct supervision of Principal Secretary Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, the officials has intensified field inspections and enforcement activities across all districts.
Shri Singh is leading all-out efforts to ensure that LPG remains available to every household, personally monitoring the supply chain and coordinating with oil marketing companies to maintain a steady flow of refills from refineries to local distributors.
The Department Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare has issued a stern warning to gas agencies and unauthorized traders against selling cylinders at inflated prices or diverting domestic stock for commercial use. To curb these malpractices, the state has strictly implemented the mandatory OTP-based delivery system and the 25-day inter-booking rule.
Shri Singh has directed departmental officials and district collectors to conduct regular raids on suspected hoarding points and unauthorized filling centers, emphasizing that any compromise on the timely delivery of gas cylinders will result in immediate legal action under the Essential Commodities Act.
Despite the logistical pressures caused by global energy volatility and technical bottlenecks at major depots, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department maintains that Odisha has sufficient stocks of cooking gas. Principal Secretary Shri Singh has requested oil companies to provide daily inventory reports and has asked them to increase the number of delivery vehicles to reduce waiting times in urban and rural pockets. The state government is also focused on keeping essential services like hospitals and schools fully supplied while managing the demands of the commercial sector.
Consumers are encouraged to report any instances of overcharging or denial of service to the departmental helpline. With the government’s proactive stance and the Principal Secretary’s hands-on approach, the administration aims to stabilize the market and eliminate the fear of shortages within the coming days.