​Diesel crisis easing in Sambhajinagar, says petroleum dealers association

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Petroleum Dealers Association (PDA) of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Sunday claimed that the diesel crisis has been easing.

PDA president Aqeel Abbas, while talking to TOI, said the main oil depot at Manmad in Nashik was operating on Sunday as requested by fuel dealers on behalf of the district administration.

“Recently, it was observed that the oil depot was not working on Sundays and caused shortage during early week that triggered a major panic buying. We had requested the district administration that such situation could be avoided if the depot remains functional on Sundays also,” he said.

The PDA said all major oil marketing companies (OMCs) supplied petrol and diesel to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other parts of Marathwada on Sunday. “Unlike past few days, no long queues were seen many fuel outlets with diesel becoming easily available,” Abbas said.

As per official figure, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district witnessed sale of 1,304 KL (Kilo Litre) of diesel on Sunday, which was sligthly lesser than 1,322 KL sold on Saturday.

The district, however, has enhanced stock with 1,842 KL of diesel available by Sunday, as against only 1,123 KL stock left on Saturday.

District supply officer for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Pravin Phulari said additional 657 KL of diesel was in transit by Sunday evening. “The diesel stock is sufficient and citizens are requested not to do excess buying out of panic,” he said.

Earlier, a group of farmers staged a blockade of Yeldari-Jintur road in Parbhani over acute shortage of diesel, on Saturday night.

Alleging that agricultural work has come to a standstill due to non-availability of fuel, the farmers raised slogans against the goct. Due to the protest, long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road until police and local authorities from the district administration intervened.