Bengal govt issues SOP for LPG supply monitoring, sets up 24x7 control room

The West Bengal government on Thursday issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure coordinated monitoring of LPG supply and distribution, while announcing the setting up of a round-the-clock control room at the state secretariat ‘Nabann’a to address supply-related grievances. The initiative aims to stabilise LPG availability and ensure prompt redressal of public complaints amid concerns over possible supply disruptions, according to the SOP. "This SOP is issued to guide coordinated monitoring, stabilise supplies, and facilitate immediate redressal of public grievances," it said. As part of the measures, a 24x7 State LPG Control Room will be operationalised at Nabanna to function as the central coordination and monitoring hub. The control room will monitor LPG availability, stock positions and movement of cylinders, and coordinate with districts, distributors and oil marketing companies to address any bottlenecks in the supply chain. The state government has also constituted a state-level LPG crisis monitoring committee, chaired by the chief secretary, to review the supply situation regularly and provide policy guidance to stabilise availability across the state. The committee will include senior officials from key departments such as food and civil supplies, school education, health, disaster management and transport, along with representatives of oil marketing companies. Officials said district-level monitoring mechanisms will also be activated to ensure timely supply and distribution of LPG cylinders, particularly for domestic consumers and essential institutions such as hospitals, schools and anganwadi centres. The SOP also calls for strict vigilance against hoarding, black marketing and diversion of LPG cylinders, while emphasising coordination between administrative authorities, distributors and oil companies to ensure uninterrupted supply.