Bhubaneswar, May 15: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Friday assured citizens that the state has enough petrol and diesel reserves to meet demand for the next 13 days, urging people not to panic or stockpile fuel unnecessarily.The Minister said the government reviewed the fuel situation with senior officials from Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and confirmed that there is no shortage of petroleum products in Odisha.He said rumours about a possible fuel shortage had triggered panic buying across the state.According to the Minister, people who usually purchase petrol worth Rs 100 were buying fuel worth Rs 500 and storing it in barrels and jerrycans, leading to long queues at fuel stations. As a result, petrol demand has reportedly surged by nearly 50 per cent.Patra appealed to the public to avoid panic buying, stating that such behaviour was creating unnecessary fear and disrupting normal fuel distribution.He urged citizens to continue purchasing fuel as per their regular needs and avoid hoarding.
Odisha has petrol, diesel stock for 13 days: Minister urges public not to panic
