Amid fuel shortage, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis asks people not to hoard

Mumbai: Fuel shortage in Marathwada and Vidarbha is now hitting Mumbai too, with at least three petrol pumps in Mumbai running out of fuel on Monday. This, even as the state government reiterated that the shortage was because of hoarding.

"We are giving petrol and diesel. If you see, we are getting the same amount of fuel as previous years, by and large. However, there is some fear among people whether they will get fuel or not, which has caused hoarding, leading to a 20% increase in demand. I appeal to people that if you hoard, then you will put a strain on supplies," chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday.

Referring to violence in some petrol pumps, the CM said he has asked police to tackle these incidents with a firm hand.


Fadnavis's plea to not hoard comes as parts of rural Maharashtra are reeling under shortage of petrol and diesel. In Parbhani, several fuel pumps have gone dry. The same is the case in Gadchiroli, Jalgaon, Washim, Buldhana and Jalna. In Dhule, each trucker is being given just 100 litres of diesel. In several districts, there are long queues stretching across many kilometres with people, mostly farmers, waiting with cans and tractors to fill diesel.

Pune civic authorities have imposed Section 144 that prevents gatherings of five or more people and prohibits unauthorised assemblies, protests and processions to maintain law and order. The order is for 14 days beginning May 26 midnight until June 8,2026.

BJP minister Girish Mahajan in a statement said 80% of those standing in queues in rural areas are the ones who are hoarding. The remark has not just angered farmers but also the Opposition which has slammed the statement as insensitive.