No shortage of petrol, diesel in Odisha, says Minister Krushna Chandra
Bhubaneswar, May 16
Amid the West Asia crisis, Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Patra reassured the public that there is no shortage of fuel such as petrol and diesel in the State and there is "no need to panic".
"We do not have any shortage of petrol, diesel or gas in Odisha... PM Narendra Modi has appealed to reduce the usage of petrol and diesel as we import them. This was taken the wrong way by the public, and they panicked. As a result, there were long lines at petrol pumps... We have 13 days' stock in Odisha and also a refinery, such as Paradip. So, there is no need to panic, we have sufficient petrol and diesel...", he told ANI on Friday.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has downsized his official convoy by nearly half as a symbolic measure to promote fuel conservation amid the ongoing fuel crisis linked to the West Asia crisis.
Earlier, the Centre hiked prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 3 per litre as the Brent crude price hovers above USD 100 per barrel amid the West Asia crisis.
Following the Rs 3 hike, petrol prices in New Delhi rose from Rs 94.77 to Rs 97.77 per litre, while diesel prices increased from Rs 87.67 to Rs 90.67 per litre.
The fuel price revision comes amid growing concerns over global energy supplies due to tensions in West Asia and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime trade route for crude oil transportation.
On Sunday, PM Modi urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases, while addressing a gathering.
To combat the volatility of fuel prices, PM Modi urged a shift in how India moves. He requested citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for carpooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible.
Meanwhile, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda have reduced the size of their convoys. Chief Ministers of several states, including Rekha Gupta, Yogi Adityanath, Mohan Yadav, Bhajanlal Sharma, Devendra Fadnavis and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, have also downsized their convoys.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I appreciate the Chief Minister downsizing his convoy. That's leadership by example! But when PM says "avoid foreign travel for a year" - that's not practical for many who have work or family abroad. 😅 We need balanced approach, not panic measures.
West Asia crisis is no joke - Strait of Hormuz disruption could really mess up our imports. Having Paradip refinery is a blessing for Odisha. But why didn't the government communicate better before people started panic buying? Now we're all paying more at the pump. 🛢️
The shift to public transport and EVs is great in theory but our metro networks are still limited. In Bhubaneswar, we're getting there but many smaller towns have no option. Carpooling works for office-goers but not for everyone. Need better infrastructure first! 🚌
"Reduce cooking oil use and curb gold purchases" - Seriously? 😂 I understand conserving fuel but linking it to cooking oil and gold feels like unrelated austerity. Let's focus on energy independence - more solar, wind, and nuclear. That's the real game changer for India.
At least Odisha has 13 days stock and a refinery - what about states without refineries? The central government should ensure equitable distribution. Also, Rs 3 hike might seem small but for daily commuters like auto-rickshaw drivers, it's a big burden. 😞
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