RAJKOT: Despite government claims that there is no fuel shortage in the country, farmers and heavy vehicle drivers across parts of Gujarat are reporting severe difficulties in obtaining diesel, leading to protests, road blockades, and clashes at petrol pumps.The crisis has become especially serious during the ongoing sowing season, when farmers depend heavily on diesel to operate tractors and irrigation equipment. Long queues of tractors and kerbaas have been seen outside petrol pumps in several districts, with many farmers alleging that fuel stations on highways and in villages have either limited stock or no diesel at all.In Gujarat’s Amreli district, angry farmers blocked the Pipavav-Rajula highway in protest against the shortage. The demonstrators parked tractors on the road, disrupting traffic and forcing vehicles to halt.Farmers said they had been struggling for nearly five days to obtain diesel and were spending hours waiting in queues without any certainty of getting fuel.“I have been standing in the queue since 6 am, and even by 10:30 am I had not received diesel,” said farmer Manubhai Nakum. “After waiting for 10 to 12 hours, we still do not get sufficient fuel. How are we supposed to continue farming?”Another farmer, Mahesh, said the situation at petrol pumps had become chaotic.“I have been in the queue since 2 am,” he said. “There is no proper management of the lines, and some people are being allowed to take fuel out of turn. Why does the government not understand our pain?”According to sources, a petrol pump in Dhrol town of Jamnagar district had to seek police assistance after clashes reportedly broke out between farmers and fuel station staff. A video circulating on social media showed a frustrated farmer smashing a kerbaas after allegedly failing to obtain diesel.Reports of long queues have also emerged from Kutch district, a major industrial and logistics hub that houses the Kandla and Mundra ports, which handle a significant share of northern India’s export-import cargo.Truck drivers in the region said they are being forced to rely on retail petrol pumps because diesel prices at bulk consumer pumps have risen sharply.“Bulk diesel is costing between Rs 130 and Rs 140 per litre, compared to around Rs 95 at retail pumps,” said a truck operator waiting in line on a service road in Kutch. “Retail pumps, however, have very limited diesel stock.”The growing concern has prompted industry bodies to intervene. The Federation of Kutch Industries Association has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, urging immediate action to restore normal diesel supply in the district.
