Severe Petrol and Diesel Crisis in Ranchi: Farmers Wander from Door to Door in Search of Fuel

The shortage of petrol and diesel in the capital Ranchi and its suburban areas has disrupted life. Due to reduction in oil supply for the last few days, fuel is being ‘rationed’ at petrol pumps, which is having the worst impact on agricultural activities and essential services.

Main causes and challenges of the crisis

• limited supply: Oil companies are giving less fuel to the pumps than the fixed quota. Especially due to the supply of Hindustan Petroleum (HP) not reaching Bokaro smoothly, many pumps have become dry (empty).

• Rationing period: The quantity of fuel at petrol pumps has been fixed according to the type of vehicles. The limit has been fixed at 2 liters of diesel for two-wheelers, 5 liters for cars and a maximum of 15 liters of diesel for commercial vehicles.

• PESO Approved Jar Screw: Oil companies have banned providing diesel in the open (in normal gallons or jars) and have made ‘Peso Approved’ jars mandatory. The problem is that neither these jars are available at the pumps nor their price (about ₹ 3,000) is within the reach of a common farmer.

Who is having the most trouble?

Farmers’ pain: “Farming or looking for fuel?”

Farmers of Angada area of ​​Ranchi say that they are already troubled by the high bills of smart meters, now the shortage of diesel has broken their back. Farmers are forced to put petrol in their bikes and scooters and take it out through pipes so that they can run the pumps. For diesel, they have to go to centers like Gondlipokhar, 20 kilometers away from their village, due to which the cost of farming has increased manifold.

What do pump operators and administration say?

• Vivek Gupta (Director, Maa Shakti Fuel): According to them, due to non-availability of Peso approved jars, they are forced to supply limited quantity of diesel in normal jars only.

• Priority: Limited diesel is being given at the pumps to institutions like hospitals, ambulances and SSB camps on priority basis.

• Demand for bus fare increase: Here, in view of the fuel prices and shortage, Jharkhand Pradesh Bus Owners Association has demanded an increase in fares, so that the buses can continue operating.