Finance
Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, confirmed on Monday that there is no fuel scarcity in Odisha and informed the people that LPG, petrol, and diesel are readily available throughout the state.
Singh, along with top officials and representatives of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), addressed a news briefing at the Annapurna Conference Hall at Lok Seva Bhawan, dismissing rumors of a shortage of 5 kg LPG cylinders. He added that such cylinders are being made widely available to migrant workers and students.
The Principal Secretary stated that anyone can buy 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders from approved distributors by giving proper identity verification, without the need for address proof. He added that OMCs are organising special camps at various locations to facilitate on-the-spot issuance of these connections.
Singh emphasised the importance of enforcement measures, stating that limitations are only being put on illicit vendors to maintain public safety, and that unauthorised dealers will face heavy penalties.
Regarding the overall supply scenario, he indicated that residential LPG supply remains stable, while commercial gas supply is gradually normalizing, with approximately 70% availability restored. Hospitals, schools, hostels, and Aahaar Kendras receive approximately 20% of the overall supply.
District Collectors have been tasked with overseeing the situation through dedicated committees to ensure seamless distribution and prompt resolution of logistical challenges, he said.
The department has also intensified its assault on black marketing and hoarding. Officials have performed checks at 1,633 locations, seizing 3,105 cylinders and registering 288 instances.
Singh encouraged consumers to adopt digital booking platforms for LPG services to ensure transparency. OMCs have also affirmed that enough stock is kept at both the dealer and distributor levels to meet the state’s demand.
Kamal Sheel, Nodal Officer for OMCs, explained that household LPG connections are being processed via e-KYC. He stated that 5 kilogram FTL cylinders are especially useful for students and migrant workers because they do not require permanent address proof.
The state government, in collaboration with oil firms, is still dedicated to maintaining uninterrupted gasoline supply and protecting consumers from unfair and illegal trading activities.
