MUMBAI: Sales of petrol and diesel in Maharashtra rose by around 20 per cent in the first 15 days of May amid panic buying triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Long queues were witnessed at fuel stations across the state almost on all days as motorists and farmers rushed to stock up on fuel. Amid the surge in demand, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday assured citizens that the state was receiving adequate fuel supplies and appealed to people to avoid panic buying.
According to an official release issued by the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department on Friday, the state recorded a 20.39 per cent increase in petrol consumption and a 19.66 per cent rise in diesel sales in the first fortnight of May compared with the corresponding period last year.
The spike in consumption was concentrated across 11 districts, with retail fuel outlets in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions witnessing the highest strain. The department said that on May 19 alone, diesel sales surged by 42 per cent and petrol sales by 21 per cent over average daily sales.
Among the districts, Washim recorded the highest rise in petrol sales at 42 per cent, followed by Jalgaon at 40 per cent. Akola registered the sharpest increase in diesel sales at 111 per cent, while Washim reported a 109 per cent jump.
According to the official data, districts such as Akola, Beed, Buldhana, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Dharashiv and Parbhani witnessed higher-than-normal fuel sales during the period. “Despite this temporary spike in demand, supplies remained uninterrupted and all demand was fully met,” the department said in a statement.
Mr. Bhujbal said both the Centre and the State government were fully capable of ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies and there was no need for citizens to hoard fuel. “There is no fuel shortage in Maharashtra. People should not panic and store extra petrol or diesel. Adequate fuel stocks are available across the state,” he said.
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