Kharif Season Nears, Kilometre-Long Tractor Queues For Diesel In Melghat

Amravati: With the monsoon at the doorstep, Dharni taluka in Melghat is reeling under an acute diesel shortage. The entire fuel supply chain in the region has collapsed, leaving farmers, businesses, and vehicle owners stranded.All four petrol pumps in the town have run dry, triggering unprecedented queues for fuel. Kilometre-long lines of tractors — crucial for farm operations — are now a common sight, throwing local traffic into chaos.Pre-kharif tillage work is in full swing across Melghat as farmers prepare land through ploughing and harrowing for the upcoming sowing season. But without timely diesel for tractors and modern farm equipment, field operations have come to a grinding halt. Farmers fear that if the work remains stalled, the entire kharif season could be lost. Farmer groups have warned of intense agitation if the administration fails to restore supply immediately.The crisis is being blamed on poor planning by fuel companies. Tankers bringing diesel are reportedly forced to wait at depots for up to two days. Even when stocks arrive, they run out within hours, forcing hundreds of vehicle owners to return empty-handed. Locals are now making a desperate appeal for authorities to restore fuel supply to Melghat on a war footing."Paid in advance, yet supply inadequate""Demand for diesel has shot up, but supply from the main depot has dropped drastically. Despite paying in advance, our fuel tankers are stuck at the depot for one to two days. That's why this unprecedented shortage has hit locally," said Sameer Patel, director of Bharat Petroleum pump in Dharni.