Diesel Shortage: AP Officials Asked to Ensure Seamless Services
"All transport services should take immediate steps to avoid inconvenience to passengers across the state," he said, calling for alternate arrangements if needed.
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister M Ram Prasad Reddy directed officials to ensure that transport services are not affected even amid temporary disruption to petrol and diesel supply. Calling on transport services to be alert, the minister on Monday said people should not be inconvenienced.
For the past two days, motorists have been thronging fuel retail outlets in the state, fearing a shortage, even as the government assured that there would be "no shortage of petrol and diesel".Several two-wheelers, cars, trucks and other vehicles were seen lined up at petrol pumps in various districts of Rajahmundry, Guntur, Vijayawada and the Godavari districts. People were also seen carrying plastic containers to buy petrol and diesel.
Gopala Krishna, a member of the fuel retailers association from Guntur, said the crisis has spread across the state. "We are expecting that 70 to 80 per cent of petrol bunks will get fuel by tomorrow (April 28), he said, claiming that last week oil companies were intent on giving less fuel to dealers and stopped diesel supply, which led to this crisis.
People are thronging to bunks where fuel is available, he said, and appealed to consumers not to panic or hoard fuel. All petrol bunks will be supplied with fuel, and things will return to normal in a couple of days, he asserted.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation during a teleconference with Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, district collectors, Superintendents of Police, senior civil supplies officials, and representatives of petroleum companies on Monday. He directed officials including the District Collectors to monitor districts via the RTG Centre with reports every three hours. He ordered oil tankers to reach bunks without delay and warned of strict action against black marketing or artificial shortages. Oil companies must work continuously until the crisis is resolved.
