The Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT) has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and issue urgent clarifications regarding a circular from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department on diesel purchase and supply. CAMIT warned that the order in its current form could disrupt lakhs of legitimate consumers across the state.
Potential Impact on Essential Services
CAMIT president Dipen Agrawal stated that confusion over the circular's implementation could prompt petrol pump operators to refuse diesel even to valid customers. He emphasized, "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 highlighted that if implemented without clarification, the circular could affect a wide range of entities including hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, housing societies, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, cold storages, telecom towers, banks, ATMs, construction firms, and agricultural users.
Proposed Solutions
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 maintaining enforcement action against hoarders and black marketeers.
Dr. Agrawal expressed confidence that the state government would act swiftly to resolve the confusion at district and taluka levels and ensure uninterrupted diesel supply to legitimate consumers across Maharashtra.
