Clarify diesel circular, ensure no disruptions to honest consumers: CAMIT urges CM Fadnavis

Nagpur: The Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT) has urged CM Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and issue urgent clarifications on a circular issued by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department on diesel purchase and supply, warning that the order in its current form could disrupt lakhs of legitimate consumers across the state.CAMIT president Dipen Agrawal said confusion over the circular's implementation could prompt petrol pump operators to refuse diesel even to valid customers. Agrawal said, "CAMIT fully supports strict action against hoarding, black marketing and unauthorised trade. But the crackdown must not hurt honest consumers. The confusion could create chaos for essential services, industry, trade and ordinary citizens."The chamber said the circular, if implemented without clarification, could affect hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, housing societies, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, cold storages, telecom towers, banks, ATMs, construction firms and agricultural users, among others. CAMIT has written to the CM seeking a clear distinction between illegal bulk purchases and legitimate diesel procurement for generators, emergency power supply and routine operations. The chamber also proposed a self-declaration system to ensure uninterrupted supply to bona fide consumers while keeping enforcement action against hoarders and black marketeers in place. Dr Agrawal expressed confidence that the state govt would act swiftly to resolve the confusion at district and taluka levels and ensure uninterrupted diesel supply to legitimate consumers across Maharashtra.