Telangana Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Telangana Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said that stocks of petroleum products are more than sufficient for the next three months. Asserting that there was no shortage of any petroleum product in the state, he said the temporary ‘out of stock’ board was put up at several outlets only because of the delayed arrival of tankers and not because of any shortage. Fuel supply is currently significantly outstripping demand.
“Supply is more than demand. We are very oversupplied,” the minister stressed at a press conference in Hyderabad along with Civil Supplies Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra. He said that strategic crude oil reserves (SPR) are sufficient for 60-65 days and ONGC has extended a line of credit to ensure uninterrupted supply.
The government said panic buying of fuel in the city was triggered by rumors of shortages of petrol, diesel and LPG.
The Civil Supplies Minister said that 596 fuel tanks are functioning in Hyderabad city alone. “All shops and petrol beds are open. No beds are allowed to close,” he said.
Civil Supply Department personnel reach the petrol tanks and dedicated control rooms monitor the stock around the clock in coordination with Legal Metrology, Police and Civil Supply officials.
Images of people carrying fuel in cans and other containers have been widely circulated on social media. Taking notice of people using such containers to transport petrol and diesel, the civil supplies minister said the practice was illegal and dangerous. “Officials are on the ground. Use of containers will not be allowed. OMCs (Oil Marketing Company) have been strictly instructed,” the minister warned.
Referring to situations elsewhere in the country, he said cases of panic buying were observed in major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Dharwad and Belgaum.
The minister again admitted that there were problems with commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and that the government was actively representing the matter to the Centre.
Published – 25 March 2026 16:40 IST
