Bhubaneswar, March 12 Amid alleged shortages of cooking gas across Odisha due to the crisis in West Asia, the state government on Thursday asserted that there was no shortage of LPG, petrol, or diesel.
Following a high-level review meeting, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra said that adequate stocks of cooking gas and fuel were available in the state.
Patra said he had discussions with fuel marketing companies including Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), Reliance, and GAIL.
He urged people not to panic over the supply situation and directed officials to remain vigilant to ensure that consumers do not face hardship.
"To ensure seamless monitoring, district collectors have been instructed to submit daily reports on the supply situation in their respective areas," he said.
The minister also warned against black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders, calling for raids and strict legal action if such activities are reported.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Principal Secretary, Sanjay Kumar Singh, said that the department is maintaining comprehensive data on the daily requirement and availability of fuel.
He added that officers have been asked to closely monitor supplies to sensitive government institutions, including the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, as well as educational institutions, to ensure uninterrupted services.
Meanwhile, the issue triggered protests both inside the Odisha assembly and on the streets on Thursday.
The pre-lunch session of the House was washed out amid uproar by opposition members over the alleged LPG shortage, as people in several parts of the state were seen queuing up to obtain cylinders.
The Odisha Congress alleged that the BJP government had failed to ensure adequate supply of cooking gas in the state.
At a press conference, Congress leader Sonali Sahoo said: "The BJP government had brought people to the streets during demonetisation, and now for cooking gas."