In Buldhana district, a group of angry farmers blocked the Nagpur-Pune-Mumbai national highway for over 90 minutes on Saturday, protesting the acute shortage of diesel that has severely disrupted agricultural activities just before the upcoming sowing season. The demonstration took place at Mera Phata in Chikhli tehsil, where farmers parked their tractors across the highway, causing a complete halt to traffic between Khamgaon and Jalna. Long queues of vehicles were seen stranded on both sides of the road under scorching heat, leading to significant inconvenience for commuters.
Farmers Express Frustration Over Fuel Crisis
Farmers alleged that despite waiting in queues at fuel stations since Friday night, they were unable to procure diesel, triggering widespread anger. Raising slogans against the government, the protesters demanded an immediate supply of diesel and arrangements for distribution through containers and other alternative means to meet urgent agricultural needs. "We have been standing in line for hours, but there is no diesel. How are we supposed to carry out farming activities?" one of the protesting farmers said.
Administration Responds to Crisis
Traffic movement was severely affected during the protest, though officials later managed to ease the blockade after discussions with the agitating farmers. Meanwhile, amid reports of fuel scarcity and panic buying, district authorities swung into action. District collector Praveenkumar Deore conducted surprise inspections at multiple petrol pumps across the district to assess the availability of petrol and diesel and review the supply chain. During the inspections, the collector interacted with pump operators, examined stock registers, and ordered verification of fuel levels in underground storage tanks. Officials from oil companies and the district supply department were also consulted to ensure that adequate fuel stocks are maintained in the coming days.
The administration maintained that there is no actual shortage of fuel and attributed the situation to rumours circulating on social media, which led to panic buying and long queues at fuel stations. "The district has sufficient stock of petrol and diesel, and supply from oil companies is regular. Citizens are requested not to believe rumours and to purchase fuel only as per requirement," Deore said. He also warned that strict action would be taken against any petrol pump found indulging in hoarding or creating artificial shortages, including cancellation of licences.
Police Deployed to Maintain Order
Superintendent of police Nilesh Tambe said adequate police deployment has been made at petrol pumps and sensitive locations to prevent law and order issues. He cautioned that any attempt to disrupt public order or encourage hoarding would invite strict legal action. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that farmers receive the fuel they need for agricultural operations without further disruption.
