Patna: Chief secretary (CS) Pratyaya Amrit on Monday directed all district magistrates (DMs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to enforce strict checks against black marketing, illegal storage, and unauthorised commercial use of domestic LPG cylinders.He instructed the officials to continue regular inspections of gas agencies, warehouses, and distribution systems, take immediate legal action against individuals and agencies found violating rules, and set up special control rooms in all districts for prompt resolution of consumer complaints.The directions were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by Amrit to review the LPG situation in the state. Representatives of major oil and gas companies attended the meeting in person, while all DMs and SPs joined through video conferencing.To curb rumours and ensure accurate information reached the public, the CS directed that all districts’ official social media pages be regularly updated with accurate information. As per the CS’s instruction, a press conference will be held daily at 3pm in all districts by the district public relations officer (DPRO) and ADM (supply) to update the public on the daily situation and provide important reports.Officials said there is no shortage of domestic LPG, piped natural gas, petrol, or diesel in the state, and supplies remain completely uninterrupted.According to information shared in the meeting, 98.5% of the state’s total gas supply consists of domestic cylinders, and their distribution is continuing without disruption. As a precautionary measure under the current situation, the supply of commercial gas has been restricted. Hospitals and educational institutions have been fully exempted from the restriction to ensure uninterrupted supply to them. During the meeting, the public was urged not to pay heed to misleading information and not to engage in panic stockpiling of gas or fuel.Indian Oil Corporation executive director for Bihar and Jharkhand, Anoop Kumar Samantaray, along with representatives of other petroleum companies, assured the govt that adequate stocks of fuel and gas are available across the state.
