No shortage of LPG or fuel in Belagavi, don’t panic: DC Roshan

Belagavi: Amid concerns over fuel availability, deputy commissioner Mohammed Roshan assured that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders, petrol or diesel across the district and urged citizens to avoid panic buying.Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Roshan said the district's daily requirement of domestic LPG cylinders is around 25,000, while the current supply stands at 20,000 to 22,000 cylinders. "Supply is expected to stabilise further in the coming days. There is no need for the public to rush for advance bookings," he said. He noted that Belagavi has about 35,000 PNG connections and appealed to consumers to use fuel judiciously, advising temporary moderation in consumption.On commercial LPG, the DC said the district requires about 1,600 cylinders daily, of which around 600 are currently available. He added that meetings have been held with hotel associations and oil companies to streamline the supply, and that 42 domestic cylinders being illegally used for commercial purposes have been seized.Clarifying the fuel situation, Roshan said there is no shortage of petrol or diesel, with 560 fuel stations across the district, including 50 in the city, supported by three supply depots. "If any outlet in the city runs dry, replenishment can be arranged within five hours," he said.City police commissioner Bhushan Borase reiterated that adequate fuel stocks are available and warned against illegal practices. "Sale of fuel in bottles or cans will not be permitted. Strict action will be taken against hoarding or unauthorised storage," he said.Authorities also cautioned against storing fuel at home, terming it both illegal and hazardous. Borase further warned of action against those spreading rumours on social media and urged citizens to report any suspicious activity via the 112 emergency helpline.Deputy director of the food and civil supplies department Mallikarjun and Hotel Owners' Association president Ajay Pai were present at the briefing.