Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday issued a directive to officers to take stern action against traders involved in the hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders and other essential commodities.
CM Majhi conducted a review of the state government’s strategies to combat artificial shortages of various commodities, which have surfaced both in the country and within the state due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region.
The meeting focused on implementing measures to maintain a steady and uninterrupted supply of petrol, cooking gas, and fertilisers.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the review revealed that Odisha currently holds an adequate supply of petroleum, natural gas, and other essential commodities.
The Chief Minister urged officials to remain highly vigilant to ensure that no artificial scarcity of cooking gas is created to facilitate black market activities.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଏସିଆରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ପାଇଁ ଦେଶ ତଥା ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୋଇଥିବା ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟର କୃତ୍ରିମ ଅଭାବଜନିତ ସମସ୍ୟାର ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ନିଆଯାଉଥିବା ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ସମୀକ୍ଷା କରିଛନ୍ତି। pic.twitter.com/qPzRg4NUXv
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) March 26, 2026
He further mandated state-wide raids and instructed that strict legal actions be taken against any traders found engaging in these unethical market practices, it said.
During the discussions, Majhi also stressed the importance of maintaining robust fertiliser stocks for the upcoming Rabi crop season. He advised them to create widespread public awareness at the government level to reassure farmers and prevent any anxiety regarding fertiliser availability.
Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra said there is no scarcity of cooking gas, petrol and diesel in Odisha.
Minister Patra noted that the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution has convened a meeting with ministers from nine states to coordinate the supply of these essential goods.
“There is no need to panic as we are supplying adequate LPG, petrol and diesel to domestic consumers. However, we can provide 40 per cent of the demand of the commercial customers,” the minister said.
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a meeting of the state crisis management group to specifically evaluate the logistics and supply status of fuel and cooking gas in Odisha.
Officers pointed out that the central government has enhanced the quota for the supply of commercial cooking gas to hotels and restaurants.
The meeting focused on increasing the use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG). It was decided in the meeting to encourage hotels and commercial establishments to adopt PNG in large quantities. Hotels which have both PNG and LPG facilities have been advised to use PNG in full.
Officers of the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department said that there is no problem in the supply of LPG to domestic consumers. However, they expressed concerns over irregular supply and black marketing of the LPG cylinders.
It was also decided in the meeting to further strengthen enforcement activities to curb black marketing of the cooking gas, officials said.
