Dibrugarh: In a bid to curb public anxiety and panic-buying, the Jorhat district administration on Thursday clarified that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in the district.Addressing an emergency meeting at the district commissioner’s office, DC Jay Shivani said the fuel supply chain remains robust and entirely functional, dismissing rumours of a dry-out as baseless misinformation.
The high-level meeting saw the participation of the additional district commissioner (supply), the superintendent of the supply department, and key representatives from the Oil Station Association. The primary agenda was to dissect the sudden surge in panic among residents, who had been flocking to petrol pumps following social media whispers of an impending fuel crisis.Providing a factual breakdown of the situation, DC Shivani revealed that the temporary closure of a few stations on Wednesday was due to internal administrative reasons rather than a lack of inventory.“Of the 56 oil depots operating across Jorhat district, only eight were found closed on Wednesday. It is crucial for the public to understand that these closures were triggered by the private financial and transaction issues of the respective owners, and not by a shortage of fuel from the oil companies. Six of those eight depots have already resolved their financial bottlenecks and are resuming operations immediately. The remaining few are expected to follow suit shortly,” she said.“We urge the citizens of Jorhat not to be misled by unverified reports or inflammatory social media posts. The district has adequate stock to meet all regular requirements. There is absolutely no need for panic or over-stocking,” the DC said.The Oil Station Association has been strictly instructed to ensure a seamless and regular supply to the public. The administration warned that any attempt to hoard fuel or create an artificial crisis would be met with legal action.