Bhubaneswar, May 16: Odisha’s Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krishna Chandra Patra, urged the public not to panic over fuel availability on Friday. He stated that despite long queues at several petrol pumps and some being closed since Thursday, there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in the state.
In response to reports of chaos and overcrowding at petrol stations, the minister reassured that there is an adequate supply of diesel and petrol in Odisha, and residents do not need to rush to the pumps.
He noted that the sudden increase in crowds appears to stem from fears of future fuel unavailability due to the current global situation.
Speaking to reporters, Patra emphasized that people are standing in long lines out of fear of a fuel shortage, but assured that there is no such issue in Odisha. The supply of fuel is sufficient.
The minister urged consumers not to hoard fuel excessively, pointing out that some individuals are purchasing 40 to 50 liters at a time, which is unnecessary and contributing to public panic.
He explained that while there was no issue previously, the panic buying has now led to long queues. Efforts will be made to inform the public that there is no fuel shortage.
Patra appealed to citizens to use petrol and diesel judiciously, considering the current global situation and pressures in the international market. He noted that geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply have affected fuel prices worldwide. He further stated that the government is closely monitoring the supply chain situation and will take necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability across the state.
Meanwhile, Kamal Sheel, Chief General Manager of IOC and state-level coordinator for the oil industry in Odisha, confirmed that all oil companies, including IOC, HPCL, BPCL, Reliance, and Nayara, have sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel. He urged citizens not to panic-buy or hoard fuel.
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