Prayagraj: In light of rumours circulating on social media and other channels regarding potential fuel shortage due to the West Asia conflict, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Thursday held a meeting with officials to ensure the smooth supply of LPG, petrol, and diesel.To ensure the continued availability of LPG and fuel, a control room has been set up at the district supply office. People can report issues on — 8299632748, 7388036037, 8126271301, 8853522200, 9956591463, and 8299033086. The DM has directed officials to ensure the prompt resolution of all complaints received at the control room.Verma asked officials to maintain constant vigil over the sale of fuel and LPG to ensure that no individual engages in unauthorised hoarding, stockpiling, or black-marketing. He asked officials to identify individuals spreading rumours and initiate appropriate legal and punitive action against them.In view of the crowds gathering at petrol pumps and LPG showrooms, instructions have been issued to coordinate with the police to ensure that adequate security is provided at these pumps and gas agencies.He said the additional district magistrate (civil supplies), district supply officer, and sales officers (LPG, Petrol, and Diesel) shall remain on constant patrol to ensure that if anyone is found engaging in black marketing or hoarding of LPG, petrol, or diesel, punitive action is initiated against them.This shall involve registering a case under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Sales officers have been directed to pay special attention to ensuring that there is no stock shortage at any petrol pump. In instances where demand exceeds supply, an uninterrupted supply from the terminal must be maintained. Supply levels for petrol and diesel must be kept commensurate with the prevailing demand.The district supply officer and the sales officers for diesel and petrol claimed that fuel stations are currently experiencing unnecessary overcrowding due to a surge in demand, driven by misleading propaganda and rumours circulating on social media. However, they said that the supply of petrol and diesel is being ensured across all 368 petrol pumps within the district.There is an adequate stock of petrol and diesel at these pumps to meet the current demand. On Thursday, the opening stock available at the district’s petrol pumps was approximately 65 lakh litres of diesel and petrol, while the deliveries received on the previous day amounted to 18 lakh litres. Similarly, the supply of LPG cylinders to consumers is being smoothly ensured through the district’s 144 gas agencies. There is no shortage of LPG in the district, officials claimed.
