West Bengal Government Activates Emergency Response to Address Escalating LPG Crisis
In response to the intensifying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortage across West Bengal, the state administration and police authorities have launched a comprehensive emergency protocol on Thursday. This initiative includes the establishment of dedicated public assistance telephone lines to help citizens navigate the fuel supply disruption.
Emergency Contact Numbers and 24-Hour Control Room
The government has released three primary emergency contact numbers for public use: 033-495066101, 03335026214, and 03324874400. Additionally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a round-the-clock LPG control room at Nabanna, the state secretariat, which can be reached at 1070, 03322143526, or 8697981070.
This newly operational control room will serve as the central hub for monitoring LPG stock levels throughout the state. It will coordinate directly with oil marketing companies, district administrations, and authorized distributors to identify and resolve supply chain bottlenecks efficiently.
Priority Allocation and Supply Restrictions
Nabanna has issued a detailed 10-point advisory outlining the crisis management strategy. The plan gives top priority to:
- Household kitchen requirements
- Midday meal programs for schools
- Hospital and healthcare service needs
In contrast, commercial LPG supply to hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments has been temporarily restricted to conserve available resources for essential services.
Multi-Pronged Approach to Mitigate Shortage
The state government is implementing several measures to alleviate the LPG crisis:
- Increased Kerosene Availability: Steps are being taken to boost kerosene supply through both the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the open market.
- Promotion of Alternative Fuels: Authorities are encouraging a shift toward compressed natural gas (CNG) and other alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on LPG.
- Transport Fare Regulation: Transport unions have been instructed to maintain reasonable fares during the supply crunch to prevent price gouging.
- Anti-Black Marketing Measures: Special enforcement teams will be deployed across districts to prevent hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders.
Institutional Framework for Crisis Management
A 12-member monitoring committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of these measures. Furthermore, a high-level crisis monitoring committee will be chaired by Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty. This committee will include senior officials from:
- Health Department
- Transport Department
- Education Department
- Director General of Police (DGP)
- Police Commissioner
- Heads of Intelligence and Enforcement Branches
This committee will regularly review the availability of all essential fuels, including LPG, petrol, diesel, and kerosene, across West Bengal.
Coordination with Oil Marketing Companies
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) developed through coordination meetings led by Chief Minister Banerjee over the past 48 hours includes specific directives for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). These companies have been advised to:
- Prioritize domestic consumers and essential institutions
- Implement booking preferences for single-cylinder consumers
- Regulate commercial LPG supply during scarcity periods
- Ensure protection of critical sectors like Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and hospital dietary services
Police authorities will facilitate green corridors to ensure uninterrupted movement of LPG tankers, which have now been classified as essential transport vehicles.
Chief Minister's Directives on Local Refining and Immediate Relief
"A meeting was held on Wednesday with oil marketing companies and administrators to review stocks," stated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "We requested them not to send gas refined in Haldia, Kalyani, and Durgapur outside the state until the situation normalises. We also requested that those with a single cylinder who ran out of gas be provided with a replacement immediately."
This comprehensive response framework aims to ensure equitable access to cooking fuel during the current shortage while maintaining essential services and preventing exploitation of consumers through price manipulation or supply disruption.
