Govt staffers deployed at outlets easing fuel crisis: Nanded collector

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Talathis and gram panchayat officials have been deputed at different fuel outlets in Nanded district amid the ongoing diesel shortage.

Nanded district collector Rahul Kardile said the measure was aimed at easing the ongoing crisis. “Local revenue staff and supply department workforce have been asked to monitor the fuel situation. There was unnecessary panic and over purchase, but the situation is becoming normal now,” Kardile said.

Naigaon taluka in Nanded was first to undertake such a measure which was later scaled up across the district. Naigaon tehsildar Dhammapriya Gaikwad said govt staffers deployed at fuel outlets were asked to note the opening and closing stock of fuel among other tasks.

“The staffers were also asked to ensure fuel outlets do not promote illegal fuel hoarding by supplying excess fuel in cans and large containers. Around 14 fuel outlets have witnessed deployment of govt staff and it is improving the situation,” she said.

Many parts of Marathwada have witnessed shortage of diesel over a period of more than a week with crisis attributed to panic buying among other reasons. Fuel outlets witnessed long queues with many farmers lining up to get the fuel to run tractors ahead of the imminent Kharif season.

Meanwhile, Congress workers carried out a protest in different parts of Marathwada to protest against the fuel crisis on Friday. Terming the fuel shortage as a failure of the Centre and PM Narendra Modi, Congress leaders accused the BJP-led government for leaving the farming community in lurch.

Maharashtra has faced a diesel supply crunch since mid-May, driven mainly by panic buying and hoarding amid fears of disruptions from the West Asia crisis. State govt claimed there was no real shortage, with refinery supplies continuing at about 63,440 kilolitres daily. Rural districts were hit hardest, with farmers queuing for hours and some pumps rationing 10-15 litres per tractor per day. The situation has disrupted pre-monsoon farming work ahead of kharif sowing, as tractor use is constrained by rationing and higher costs.