Patna: Bihar government has assured residents that there is no shortage of domestic gas (LPG), piped natural gas (PNG), petrol or diesel in the state. Officials said supplies of these essential fuels are continuing smoothly and without interruption across Bihar.
The assurance came during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on March 16. Representatives from major oil and gas companies attended the meeting in person, while District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) from across the state joined through video conferencing to review the supply situation.
During the meeting, authorities appealed to the public not to believe rumours or misleading information circulating about a possible shortage. People were also urged not to panic-buy or stockpile fuel and cooking gas unnecessarily.
Anup Kumar Samantaray, Executive Director (Bihar–Jharkhand) of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, along with representatives of other petroleum companies, informed officials that the state currently has sufficient reserves of fuel and gas to meet demand.
Officials also noted that about 98.5% of the state’s gas supply is allocated to domestic LPG cylinders, and distribution is continuing normally. However, as a precautionary measure under current circumstances, supply of commercial LPG cylinders has been temporarily restricted. Hospitals and educational institutions have been exempted from this restriction to ensure uninterrupted services.
The Chief Secretary directed district administrations and police authorities to take strict action against black marketing of domestic LPG cylinders, illegal hoarding and unauthorised commercial use. Authorities have been asked to conduct regular inspections of gas agencies, storage facilities and distribution networks.
The state government also announced the establishment of special control rooms in all districts to address consumer complaints quickly. Officials said strict legal action would be taken against individuals or agencies found violating supply regulations.
To prevent the spread of rumours, district administrations have been instructed to regularly update accurate information on their official social media pages. In addition, district authorities will hold daily press briefings at 3pm, led by the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) and Additional District Magistrate (Supply), to inform the public about the current situation and provide official updates.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, the Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department, and the Director General of Police.
