In a major crackdown on the illegal hoarding and black marketing of essential fuels, authorities in Madhya Pradesh have seized 2,888 LPG cylinders following intensive inspections at 2,046 locations. Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Minister Govind Singh Rajput announced that nine FIRs have already been registered as part of the government’s rigorous enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act.

 

The minister’s statement comes as an assurance to the public that despite the intensity of these raids, the state maintains a more than adequate supply of petroleum products. Minister Rajput emphasised that all Indian refineries are operating at full capacity and crude oil reserves remain sufficient to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain across the state. Panic buying triggers 2.5-fold spike in petrol and diesel consumption across key districts Addressing the long queues seen at some fuel stations, the minister clarified that the situation was the result of panic buying rather than an actual shortage.

 

While the state typically sees daily sales of approximately 9 KL of petrol and 18 KL of diesel, recent days have seen volumes spike by 2 to 2.5 times the usual consumption in certain districts. This sudden surge caused temporary dry-outs at specific pumps, but supply from oil company depots remains continuous and smooth. To meet this artificial spike in demand, LPG bottling plants and oil supply locations are currently operating for extended hours. Minister Rajput confirmed that every oil company has a daily inflow of fresh stock reaching their depots, ensuring that both current and future requirements will be met without any hurdles.

 

The Minister has appealed to the citizens of Madhya Pradesh to remain calm and avoid falling prey to unfounded rumours. “There is absolutely no shortage of petroleum products in the state,” he stated, urging the public to purchase fuel only according to their actual needs and to avoid unnecessary stockpiling. Oil companies have echoed this sentiment, confirming that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain the seamless distribution of LPG, petrol, and diesel across the region.