Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday dismissed concerns over an alleged petrol and diesel shortage in the state and urged citizens not to engage in panic buying, asserting that fuel supplies remain sufficient across Maharashtra.
Responding to claims made by NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil regarding an alleged shortage of fuel for police vehicles in Nagpur, Fadnavis said there was no scarcity of petrol or diesel and blamed panic-driven stockpiling for creating temporary disruptions.
“There is an adequate supply of petrol and diesel in Maharashtra. Panic buying disrupts the supply chain that has evolved over several years,” Fadnavis said.
Explaining the impact of sudden demand surges, the chief minister compared the situation to banking systems.
“If everyone withdraws money from a bank simultaneously, the bank may not immediately have that level of liquidity because systems function according to routine demand patterns. The same principle applies to fuel supply chains,” he said.
Fadnavis stressed that unnecessary stockpiling by consumers disturbs the balance of supply and demand and can create temporary shortages despite sufficient reserves.
“Whenever panic is created and people begin purchasing more fuel than required, the supply chain gets affected. That is what creates short-term shortages,” he added.
The chief minister also rejected Jayant Patil’s remarks that police in Nagpur allegedly faced operational difficulties due to a lack of diesel.
“Jayant Patil made serious allegations claiming police were unable to investigate a crime because of diesel shortages and suggested the double-engine government had run out of fuel. There is no such issue anywhere concerning fuel availability for police vehicles,” Fadnavis said.
He further claimed that action had already been taken against the individual who allegedly circulated such misinformation.
Earlier in the day, Jayant Patil had criticised the government over reports of fuel shortages in parts of the state and, in a post on X, questioned whether “even the oil in the engines of the double-engine government had run out.”
The exchange comes amid concerns in some areas over fuel availability, although the state government has maintained that supplies remain normal.
