Odisha Govt Orders College Hostels to Move From LPG to PNG Fuel

27 Jun 2026, 10:01 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

In order to shore up fuel security and eliminate any vulnerabilities, the Odisha Higher Education Department recently mandated all colleges and universities in the state have to switch their student hostels from LPG to Piped Natural Gas (PNG), Educational campuses are instructed to immediately execute this migration in all areas where the necessary PNG infrastructure is currently available.

This order came after the department’s Commissioner-cum-Secretary raised concerns, and following some pretty serious talks at the second State Crisis Management Group meeting. Acting on those discussions, Dr. Sujata Subhadarshini Nayak, Joint Secretary, sent out a letter on June 25, 2026. She directed regional education heads in Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Berhampur, Jeypore, and Sambalpur to move quickly and tackle existing fuel supply problems head-on.

Regional directors now have to make sure every institution in their area gets on top of local LPG shortages. Part of the plan includes setting up special department helplines, so hostels can flag supply issues immediately. Campus authorities have to keep a close eye on everything and fix problems fast, keeping student meals running smoothly and making sure life in the hostels isn’t disrupted.

State leaders see this shift to PNG as a smart, preventive step. It’s not just a quick fix—it’s supposed to make energy supplies more reliable for the long haul, protecting colleges from the usual ups and downs of LPG deliveries. To enforce all this, the Higher Education Department wants detailed Action Taken Reports from every regional director, no exceptions. Everyone has to send in a progress update by June 30, 2026.