Published Mar 14, 2026 | 8:39 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 14, 2026 | 8:40 PM
Commercial establishments have been instructed not to store more than five cylinders in addition to those currently in use.
Synopsis: To streamline monitoring, oil companies have been directed to provide daily data on LPG stock, arrivals, distribution and balance at public sector gas agencies before 11 am to district administrations and the Public Distribution Department.
Kerala has set up a war room at the Civil Supplies Commissionerate in Thiruvananthapuram to manage the cooking gas shortage following supply disruptions due to the West Asia conflict.
The central government has imposed restrictions on LPG movement across the country due to the crisis, prompting the state government to initiate emergency measures.
Meetings involving senior officials and public sector oil companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited — were held on 9 March under the chairmanship of GR Anil, Kerala’s Minister for Food and Public Distribution, and again on 12 March under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to coordinate the response.
Considering Kerala’s dependence on external supplies, the government has requested the Centre to relax restrictions on commercial LPG supply.
Minister Anil has written to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking special consideration for the state.
Oil companies have informed the government that commercial LPG distribution may be allowed by prioritising essential institutions such as old-age homes, hospitals, orphanages, schools, public and charitable hotels, hostels, guest houses and government canteens.
The Department of Public Distribution will prepare and submit a verified list of such institutions to the oil companies.
To streamline monitoring, oil companies have been directed to provide daily data on LPG stock, arrivals, distribution and balance at public sector gas agencies before 11 am to district administrations and the Public Distribution Department.
The state’s IT Mission will develop a digital dashboard to track these figures, while data will be temporarily shared through a Google Sheet system.
The companies will also report daily production and stock levels at bottling plants to the State Civil Supplies Commissioner’s office. Meanwhile, Taluk Supply Officers will monitor stock and distribution at private gas agencies.
Authorities have also tightened enforcement to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
Commercial establishments have been instructed not to store more than five cylinders in addition to those currently in use.
Inspection squads from the Civil Supplies Department have already conducted checks at 84 gas agencies and 252 hotels, seizing 57 illegally distributed LPG cylinders in Kottayam district and seven in Thiruvananthapuram district.
Officials warned that the use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes will attract strict action under the LPG Control Order and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The department has directed inspection squads to continue strict monitoring — including during holidays — to prevent hoarding and illegal diversion of cooking gas during the ongoing supply disruption.
