Bhubaneswar

Amid long queues at fuel stations across Odisha, the state government on Friday appealed to citizens not to indulge in panic buying, asserting that petrol and diesel stocks remain sufficient and supply chains are functioning normally.

Following an emergency review meeting with officials and representatives of oil companies, Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra assured residents that the state currently has enough fuel reserves to meet demand for the next 13 days.

The minister said fuel consumption across the state had jumped by nearly 50 per cent over the past two to three days, largely driven by rumours of a possible supply disruption.

“Odisha supplies fuel to states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh. If there is no shortage in those regions, there is no reason for Odisha to face one. Reports of scarcity are baseless,” Patra said.

According to the minister, consumers who would typically purchase fuel worth Rs 200 were now filling up for Rs 500 or more, while some were also seen carrying containers and jerrycans to stock additional fuel.

He acknowledged reports that a few retail outlets were regulating supply, but clarified that no such directive had been issued by the government.

“Some outlet managers may have adopted temporary measures to ensure fair distribution among customers,” he said.

Patra attributed the sudden surge in demand to what he described as a misunderstanding of recent remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging citizens to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption as part of broader economic discipline.

“As petroleum and gold are imported commodities paid for in dollars, the Prime Minister appealed for responsible consumption to support the economy. Unfortunately, some interpreted it as a sign of an impending shortage, which triggered unnecessary panic buying,” he said.

The minister said district authorities have been instructed to crack down on black marketing and ensure that essential public transport services, including buses and trucks, receive priority in fuel distribution.

Officials of oil marketing companies have also confirmed that fuel inventories remain healthy and supply routes are operating smoothly, he added.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited Chief General Manager Kamal Sheel said Odisha’s daily requirement stands at approximately 44.7 lakh litres of petrol and 1.12 crore litres of diesel.

“Demand has risen significantly in the last few days, but there is no shortage anywhere in the state. We are monitoring supply district by district and replenishing stocks regularly,” Sheel said, urging residents not to crowd fuel stations or hoard supplies.

He added that each district currently has enough stock to last between three and four days, with continuous replenishment based on consumption patterns.

Addressing reports of temporary closure of some fuel stations, Sheel clarified that these were due to operational reasons and not because of any shortage.

Meanwhile, opposition parties targeted the ruling government over the situation.

Indian National Congress leader and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das criticised the administration, saying long queues, “No Stock” boards, and rising fuel prices reflected governance failure.

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Biju Janata Dal leader and MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain also blamed the BJP government, alleging that flawed economic policies had contributed to the current situation.