Shirdi, May 24: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the ongoing fuel shortage in rural areas on Saturday. He confirmed that a sudden increase in demand for petrol and diesel by 20 to 30 percent has disrupted local supplies.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister issued a stern warning against hoarding and black marketing of fuel under the guise of agricultural needs.
Fadnavis stated that he has directed all district collectors and divisional commissioners to closely monitor the situation. Measures must be implemented to ensure that farmers receive uninterrupted diesel supplies for their upcoming crops.
He noted that petrol and diesel are currently not easily available in several rural areas. In light of this, he has instructed district administrators to ensure that diesel is provided wherever necessary, so that agricultural activities are not hindered.
Addressing the sudden spike in purchases, the Chief Minister suggested that artificial shortages or systemic manipulation might be at play.
“We closely monitor our annual fuel consumption patterns. An unexpected 20 to 30 percent increase in demand in certain areas indicates something is amiss. We must ensure that genuine farmers do not face difficulties due to hoarding or panic buying,” he said.
To tackle the supply imbalance, several district collectors have already initiated rationing protocols. This includes verifying vehicle registration certificates before distributing bulk diesel to individuals.
The Chief Minister hinted that the state government may streamline this verification process in other affected areas to curb hoarding.
His statement comes at a time when concerns over international supply chains linked to the energy crisis in West Asia have led to significant disruptions in fuel supplies during the first half of May.
The sudden increase in demand has placed immense pressure on local supply chains, resulting in several petrol pumps in rural districts running temporarily dry.
Earlier, Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal assured the public that there is sufficient supply of petrol and diesel in the state.
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