Patna: The Bihar government has ordered strict action against hoarding and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted supplies of fuel and essential commodities, following the first meeting of the state’s Crisis Management Group (CMG) chaired by chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Monday.
Senior officials, including the development commissioner, home department leadership and police chief, joined the 90-minute review alongside district magistrates and police superintendents via video link. Representatives of major oil companies were also present, with the food and consumer protection department designated as the nodal agency.
The chief secretary said the CMG would meet every Monday to monitor the situation and coordinate the state’s response.
A review of cooking gas supplies revealed significant backlogs across multiple districts, including West Champaran, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur. District authorities were instructed to clear delays immediately, while police were told to carry out surprise inspections at petrol pumps to prevent shortages of diesel and petrol. Oil companies have been asked to work closely with local administrations to stabilise supply chains. The government also stressed that LPG supplies to community kitchens and government hostels must not be disrupted.
Officials warned that hoarding and black marketing often increase during periods of strain and said any such activity would be met with immediate legal action, including the registration of FIRs. Border districts were asked to remain particularly vigilant.
The meeting also reviewed the rollout of piped natural gas (PNG) connections. While officials said around 60% of current commercial demand was being met, progress in 14 districts was reported to be at a standstill, drawing criticism from the chief secretary. Local authorities in these areas have been told to coordinate with the nodal department and prepare urgent action plans, with instructions issued to assess shortages of manpower, equipment and contractors.
In response to concerns over migrant workers, the labour resources department has been directed to launch a toll-free helpline to assist workers returning from the Middle East and other parts of India. District magistrates have also been asked to compile detailed data on arrivals.
To counter misinformation and maintain public confidence, district officials will hold daily press briefings at 3pm and monitor social media for false claims. They have also been instructed to inspect control rooms regularly to ensure complaints are resolved promptly.
Senior administrative officials and divisional commissioners have been asked to visit their assigned districts within two days to review fuel availability, the functioning of control rooms and the status of returning migrant workers.
