Maharashtra's Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday, 22 May assured residents that the state has adequate stocks of petrol and diesel, urging citizens to stop panic buying amid rumours of an impending fuel crisis. The minister's intervention came after petrol and diesel sales in Maharashtra spiked 20 per cent above average levels in May, driven entirely by fear-induced hoarding rather than any genuine supply disruption.

What the Minister Said

'The Central government, state administration, and the Prime Minister are fully capable of ensuring a steady and sufficient supply of fuel for every citizen. There is absolutely no need to create stock or hoard fuel out of fear or based on baseless rumours,' Minister Bhujbal stated at a media briefing.

To back his assurances, Bhujbal presented district-wise fuel sales data from across Maharashtra covering the past several days, demonstrating that supply chains remain fully operational. He appealed to citizens to purchase fuel only as per their immediate requirements and to cooperate with local authorities.

How the Rumours Spread

Misinformation about a looming fuel shortage circulated rapidly across social media platforms, triggering long queues at petrol pumps across the state. The sudden artificial surge in demand stretched local logistics, temporarily emptying some fuel stations — giving the appearance of a real shortage where none existed in the supply chain.

This comes amid ongoing international geopolitical tensions that have caused fluctuations in global crude oil prices, stoking public anxiety about domestic supply stability. Notably, the panic appears to be a self-fulfilling dynamic: rumour-driven demand created the very optics of scarcity it feared.

Oil Companies Confirm Stable Supply

Earlier in the week, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) — through State Level Coordinator (Oil Industry), Maharashtra, Mihir Joshi, had on Wednesday confirmed that availability of petrol, diesel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) remains normal and uninterrupted across the state.

According to the joint statement from the OMCs, all supply channels — including terminals, depots, LPG bottling plants, and retail outlets — are functioning efficiently. Fuel stocks are being continuously monitored, and replenishment is progressing seamlessly across all locations in line with prescribed safety and operational norms.

Government's Aim: Prevent Black-Marketing

By releasing official data and making a public appeal, Minister Bhujbal said the government's goal is to restore normalcy, stabilise daily consumption rates, and prevent any artificial inflation or black-marketing of fuel. Citizens have been asked to maintain patience and rely only on verified official communications regarding supply status.

With OMCs and the state administration both confirming stable reserves, authorities are now focused on reversing the demand spike before it creates secondary logistics pressure in the days ahead.