Senior government officials on Thursday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country, assuring that full fuel supplies are being maintained at retail outlets and action is being taken against petrol pumps found restricting sales. Officials said increased demand during the harvesting season and a shift of customers from private fuel retailers to public sector oil companies have led to higher sales at some pumps. They also clarified that there has been no reduction in crude oil imports from Russia, ensuring adequate supplies for refineries.
The government highlighted that the recent Rs 3.91 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices amounts to a 4.4 per cent increase — among the lowest globally outside subsidised Gulf nations. IndianOil officials said public sector oil companies had absorbed rising crude costs for 76 days before partially passing on the burden to consumers. In comparison, fuel prices have surged sharply in several countries, including Pakistan, Malaysia, the UAE, the US, and European nations.
Amid rising concerns over inflation linked to the West Asian crisis, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called for a coordinated national strategy to tackle the interconnected challenges of fuel, fertiliser, and food prices. CII recommended measures such as promoting higher ethanol blends, expanding flex-fuel vehicles and LNG trucking, boosting domestic energy production, and accelerating strategic petroleum reserve expansion.
The industry body also proposed reforms in fertiliser subsidies through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) model, gradual inclusion of urea under the Nutrient Based Subsidy framework, and targeted steps to control food inflation through buffer stock releases, anti-hoarding measures, and improved cold-chain infrastructure. CII praised the government's early interventions to cushion consumers from the initial fuel price shock while ensuring supply to critical sectors.
