Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Higher Education Department has directed authorities of higher educational institutions (HEIs) across the state to closely monitor the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to hostels and shift to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections wherever the facility is available.

The direction has been issued following discussions held during the second meeting of the State Crisis Management Group and observations made by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department.

In a letter dated June 25, Joint Secretary to the Government Dr Sujata Subhadarshini Nayak instructed the Regional Directors of Education at Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Jeypore and Sambalpur to take immediate measures to address issues related to LPG supply in higher educational institutions, particularly hostels.

The department has asked regional directors to issue instructions to all HEIs under their jurisdiction regarding any scarcity of LPG supply. They have also been directed to establish and widely publicise a departmental helpline number for reporting LPG-related issues.

The letter further asks authorities to ensure proper monitoring and prompt redressal of complaints related to LPG supply so that hostel operations are not affected.

As part of the preventive measures, the department has instructed all higher educational institutions to switch to PNG connections without delay wherever such infrastructure is available.

The Higher Education Department has also sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the regional directors and asked them to submit the report by June 30.