Bhubaneswar, June 26 -- The Odisha Higher Education Department directed all higher educational institutions on Thursday to arrange Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections for hostel kitchens wherever the required infrastructure is available.

The move was initiated to ensure uninterrupted cooking facilities in hostels amid the prevailing LPG crisis.

The department instructed institutions to expedite the process of obtaining PNG connections in areas where the network is already in place. The directive is aimed at preventing any disruption in the preparation of meals for hostel boarders.

According to the directive, the decision was taken in view of the LPG shortage. Institutions located in areas with existing PNG infrastructure are advised to...