Raipur
The Chhattisgarh government on Friday said there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in the state and appealed to citizens not to engage in panic-buying or hoarding fuel amid rumours about availability.
The state food department said current stocks stand at 3.94 crore litres of petrol and 8.09 crore litres of diesel, with regular supplies continuing. Officials said arrangements are in place to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability for all consumers, with priority given to farmers and essential services.
There are 2,516 operational petrol pumps across the state. Diesel demand has risen due to ongoing rabi harvesting and preparations for the kharif season. To meet demand, oil companies are maintaining continuous supply from depots at Lakholi and Mandir Hasaud (Raipur), and Gopalpur (Korba).
On May 22 alone, the state received 21.83 lakh litres of petrol and 1.29 crore litres of diesel, and replenishment continues daily, officials said.
The food secretary held a review with oil-company officials on May 20 to assess availability and distribution. Authorities directed immediate replenishment from depots to any petrol pump nearing depletion to prevent consumer inconvenience.
From May 22, the government has banned sale of petrol and diesel in drums and jerry cans at fuel stations, with exemptions for farmers and designated essential services as approved by district collectors.
The government again urged residents not to trust rumours or stockpile fuel beyond their needs.
