Domestic LPG cylinders delivered at doorstep within three-four days despite global energy crisis: Minister
Minister urges consumers to imbibe & accept PNG connections as it is a bit cheaper
State procures 36.79 lakh MT of paddy; achieves 99.84 per cent of the target in KMS 2025-26
Video-Conferencing facility being set up at State & Dist Consumer Forums
Commercial gas cylinders will be made available to needy persons on equitable basis for marriage functions: Secretary
Patna, Apr 08: Food and Consumer Protection Department’s Minister Leshi Singh on Wednesday asserted that domestic LPG cylinders are being delivered at doorstep within three four days of cylinder booking despite global energy crisis arising out of Gulf war.
Making an appeal to the consumers not to unnecessarily gather around gas agencies, Singh said that “Though, initially there were shortage of LPG cylinders due to global energy crisis and people panicked and gathered around gas agencies. But despite this, gas cylinders are being made available as per the demand for domestic use. Cylinders are being delivered within three four days of booking.”
Singh, who was accompanied by Department’s Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh, was addressing a press conference here at Soochna Bhawan’s conference hall to highlight her department’s achievements of one year.
Initially, there was short supply of cylinders following the outbreak of war but the shortage was not severe that it may affect day to day life, she said adding that “we held meetings with Oil Marketing Companies and asked them to ensure delivery of cylinders in a transparent manner.”
Following the launch of a state-wide drive against black marketing, hoarding and commercial use of domestic gas cylinders, 114 FIRs have been lodged and 1662 gas cylinders have been seized after inspections of the gas agencies, she added.
So far as commercial gas cylinders are concerned, it was initially closed as the government’s priority was to cater to the requirements of domestic cylinders, Singh said and added that now around 60 per cent commercial gas cylinders are being made available on a priority basis to hostels, hospitals, hotels, industrial use.
With a view to redressing people’s complaints/grievances and problems relating to LPG cylinders, the minister said that a state level control room has been established at Patna. It is functional between 7 am to 9 pm and people can call on the control room number 0612-2233050 to lodge their complaints.
Around 450 complaints used to come in one day on control room number but now the number of complaints has reduced to 150 in a day which shows that the pressure has eased off to an extent, she said.
PNG CONNECTIONS
The Minister urged the consumers to imbibe and accept the PNG as it is a bit cheaper and hassle free. Oil Marketing Companies have been asked to augment their capacity to provide PNG connections to the people on demand, she said adding that six Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been authorized for distribution of PNG and CNG in all the 38 districts of the state under “Bihar City Gas Distribution Policy 2025.”
PNG gas connections have been made live in 99,346 households so far and 55,025 households are all set to get the connections, the minister said adding that the pace of giving PNG connections was 3000-5000 per month in the past one year which has increased to 8000 per month in March 2026.
PADDY & WHEAT PROCUREMENT IN BIHAR
She said that the state has procured 36.79 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy against the target of 36.85 lakh MT in the Kharif Marketing Season of 2025-26 that ended on March 31, 2026. The state, which has achieved 99.84 per cent of its paddy procurement target, procured paddy from 5,50,474 farmers and paid Rs 8807.47 crore to them.
Similarly, the central government has set a target of wheat procurement of 18,000 MT from Bihar in Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27. The state has procured 2617 MT from 591 farmers till April 06, 2026. The procurement began on April 01, 2026 and will continue till June 15, 2026, Singh said and added that the centre has increased the MSP for wheat by Rs 160 per quintal to Rs 2585 per quintal.
HEARING VIA VIDEO-CONFERENCING AT STATE & DIST CONSUMER FORUMS
The facility of video-conferencing is being established at Bihar State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Patna and various District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, minister said and added that with the facility in place, a consumer from anywhere can appear and put his/her side during the hearing at the commission through VC.
COMMERCIAL GAS CYLINDERS FOR MARRIAGES
In reply to a query about the availability of commercial gas cylinders used in marriage ceremonies/functions, Department Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh said that “Keeping in mind marriage season, we are issuing guidelines as per which commercial gas cylinders will be made available to the needy persons on equitable basis.”
Giving an example, Singh said that if there are 1000 marriages scheduled to be held in a city and 4,000 commercial gas cylinders are available, then each needy person will be provided with four cylinders.
5 KG CYLINDERS FOR MIGRANT LABOURERS
The Secretary said that District Magistrates (DMs) and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been asked to make 5 kg gas cylinders available to the migrant labourers who are returning to the state from other states such as Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra etc. They don’t need proper connection for getting 5 kg cylinders, rather they just need to get registration done for the purpose, he added.
Special Secretary and Director of Directorate of Consumer Protection Bibhuti Ranjan Choudhary, Special Secretary Upendra Kumar and Bihar State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Sunil Kumar were also present on the occasion.