Hyderabad, Mar 25 (PTI) The Telangana government on Wednesday debunked claims of a fuel shortage and urged the public to ignore the rumours that have triggered panic buying across the state.
As motorists began rushing to fuel stations in Hyderabad amid rumours of shortage since Tuesday evening, the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association reassured the public that there is adequate stock available with HPCL, IOCL and BPCL, and the supply chains are functioning normally.
Addressing concerns, the government said there is no shortage of any petroleum products in the state.
Telangana Minister for Civil Supplies and Irrigation N Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Civil Supplies Department Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra, categorically stated that stocks are more than adequate for the next three months and that supply is currently running well ahead of demand, an official release said.
The Minister said that oil marketing companies — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — have ramped up supplies significantly. As on Wednesday, against a demand of 17,246 kilolitres (KL), the companies supplied 17,898 KL, leaving an excess of nearly 652 KL, it said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that while daily demand has suddenly spiked by 25 per cent due to panic buying, supplies have been maintained at 22 per cent above the average, ensuring seamless availability.
An additional 16,000 KL of buffer stock has already been arranged and 1,200 extra tankers have been pressed into service to keep fuel stations fully stocked.
Any temporary “no stock” boards visible at a few outlets were only because tankers had not yet arrived, and not due to any actual shortage, he clarified.
The government has also taken strong note of the use of cans and containers to carry petrol and diesel, terming the practice illegal and hazardous.
“Officials are in the field. Use of containers will not be allowed. OMCs have been strictly instructed,” the Minister warned.
He appealed to the public not to engage in panic buying, saying that all rumours of shortages were baseless.
On the availability of LPG, the Minister said domestic LPG cylinders and petrol/diesel are in abundant supply with no shortage.
While there is a “problem” with commercial LPG cylinders, the government is taking up the matter with the Centre, he said.
In a related development, authorities have seized a total of 2,952 commercial cylinders being illegally used, the release said.
Noting that 596 petrol stations are functioning in Hyderabad city alone, the minister said, “No bunk is being allowed to close. Staff from the Civil Supplies Department have been reaching out to every bunk, and dedicated control rooms are monitoring supplies round-the-clock in coordination with Legal Metrology, Police and Civil Supplies officials.” Calling the current rush “purely panic-driven”, Uttam Kumar Reddy urged citizens to stop rumour-mongering and avoid hoarding.
“There is absolutely no need for panic. Petrol, diesel and domestic LPG are in abundant supply,” he added.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar on Wednesday urged residents to remain calm.
In a post on ‘X’, he said: “Citizens are requested not to panic or indulge in unnecessary rush that may create disruption. The situation is being closely monitored. Please remain calm and cooperate.” The association said that it has come to its notice that due to circulation of rumours regarding fuel shortage, people are rushing to fuel stations and filling their tanks unnecessarily.
“This panic buying has led to an abnormal surge in sales–nearly 2.5 to 3 times the normal levels–resulting in temporary stock exhaustion at several retail outlets across the country,” the association said in a statement.
The petroleum dealers’ body appealed to the public to avoid panic buying and to purchase fuel only as per regular needs and not store fuel in unauthorised containers.
Long queues of two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles were witnessed at fuel stations in several parts of Hyderabad since Tuesday evening over rumours of shortage of fuel.
A two-wheeler rider said he waited at the petrol pump for more than 20 minutes to refill and found several outlets were overcrowded, while another consumer said he waited for more than one hour filling CNG in his four-wheeler . PTI VVK GDK VVK ROH
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