Kerala govt expands LPG war room into round-the-clock statewide monitoring system

The State government has expanded the existing war room, constituted at the Commissionerate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to monitor the ongoing LPG crisis, into a 24×7 LPG War Room at both State and district levels. The initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted availability, equitable distribution and timely delivery of cooking gas across Kerala.

The State-level LPG war room will function from the South Conference Room at the Government Secretariat, with IAS officers working in shifts to supervise operations round the clock. The war room will operate through multiple specialised verticals, including LPG management, CNG-PNG management, supply chain management and market monitoring, and regulatory and enforcement activities.

The LPG vertical will monitor distributor-wise stock levels, refill bookings, delivery pendency and demand trends, while coordinating with oil companies and bottling plants to ensure steady supply. It will also track consumer grievances and abnormal booking patterns to prevent artificial scarcity and ensure last-mile delivery.

The PNG-CNG unit will focus on promoting gas-based alternatives, particularly among commercial consumers, and facilitate infrastructure expansion and regulatory clearances. The market surveillance unit will analyse pricing trends, consumer sentiment and demand surges to prevent panic buying and market distortions.

A key component of the system is the supply chain management vertical, which will track stock availability at bottling plants, monitor dispatch schedules and oversee transportation logistics to prevent delays and bottlenecks. The regulation and enforcement wing will crack down on hoarding, diversion, black marketing, overcharging and underweight delivery through inspections and coordinated enforcement action.

The government has also directed the establishment of similar war rooms in all districts, functioning as local coordination hubs with corresponding departmental units. The district-level centres will handle field-level troubleshooting and escalate issues requiring State intervention.