Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In response to the ongoing diesel shortage, talathis and gram panchayat officials have been deputed at various fuel outlets across Nanded district. District collector Rahul Kardile stated that the measure aims to alleviate the crisis. “Local revenue staff and supply department workforce have been asked to monitor the fuel situation. There was unnecessary panic and over purchase, but the situation is becoming normal now,” Kardile said.
Naigaon taluka in Nanded was the first to implement such a measure, which was later expanded district-wide. Naigaon tehsildar Dhammapriya Gaikwad explained that government staff deployed at fuel outlets are tasked with recording opening and closing stock of fuel, among other duties. “The staffers were also asked to ensure fuel outlets do not promote illegal fuel hoarding by supplying excess fuel in cans and large containers. Around 14 fuel outlets have witnessed deployment of govt staff and it is improving the situation,” she said.
Many parts of Marathwada have experienced diesel shortages for over a week, attributed partly to panic buying. Fuel outlets saw long queues, with many farmers lining up to obtain fuel for tractors ahead of the imminent Kharif season. Meanwhile, Congress workers staged protests in different parts of Marathwada on Friday against the fuel crisis. Terming the shortage a failure of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders accused the BJP-led government of abandoning the farming community.
Maharashtra has faced a diesel supply crunch since mid-May, primarily driven by panic buying and hoarding amid fears of disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The state government claimed there was no real shortage, with refinery supplies continuing at about 63,440 kilolitres daily. Rural districts were hit hardest, with farmers queuing for hours and some pumps rationing 10-15 litres per tractor per day. The situation has disrupted pre-monsoon farming work ahead of kharif sowing, as tractor use is constrained by rationing and higher costs.
