The ROs in more than 150 districts registered over 30 per cent growth in petrol sales.  | Photo Credit: TkKurikawa

Almost 20 per cent of the roughly 784 districts in the country are witnessing a rise in demand for petrol and diesel, partly driven by the farm sector and partly due to industrial users crowding at retail outlets (ROs) for cheaper diesel supplies.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Oil Ministry, said: “Unusually high sales and heavy crowding is observed at ROs in certain areas. However, it is informed that there are adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps in the country.”

The ROs in more than 150 districts registered over 30 per cent growth in petrol sales. Besides, another 14 districts reported sales rising by 100 per cent, she added.

Diesel sales rose more than 30 per cent in 156 districts, while six districts reported a 100 per cent growth in sales. Around 156 districts witnessed over 30 per cent jump in diesel sales. Also, 14 districts witnessed sales doubling, she said.

India has a total of around 1.03 lakh ROs, of which the three PSU OMCs — Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) — control more than 90 per cent.

The government is already tracking the pattern where industrial users are buying cheaper fuel from ROs of PSU oil marketing companies (OMCs), which is earmarked for retail consumers such as common man and farmers.

“States/UTs have been requested to form special squads and take action on malpractice of bulk consumers and hoarders taking supplies meant for retail consumers, black marketing, unauthorised stocking and diversion of petroleum products under relevant provisions of EC Act and Control orders issued thereunder. Industry associations have been requested to advise their members to purchase diesel from authorised procurement channels,” Sharma added.

Enforcement action

On enforcement action related to petrol and diesel, she said that during the last two days, about 900 raids were conducted wherein 417 litres of petrol and 75,715 litres of diesel was seized, 12 FIRs were registered and 15 persons were arrested across the country. Similarly, the surprise inspections by the PSU OMCs officials are also continuing.

Similarly, inspections at more than 4,660 retail outlets have been conducted in the last 4 days. Penalties have also been imposed on 73 retail outlets, and 562 retail outlets have been put under suspension.

The Informal GoM, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Wednesday took stock of the petrol, diesel, LPG and natural gas supply situation in the country and deliberated on the pattern of bulk diesel users unethically buying fuel earmarked for retail consumers.

Separately on the same day, the Oil Ministry said that under the government’s direction, and as a deliberate act of consumer protection during the ongoing West Asia disruption, the OMCs have refrained from passing through the full international price into domestic retail sales. This cushion is intended for retail consumers: households, two-wheeler commuters, and farmers at the pump. It is not extended to industrial procurement, where pricing tracks international actuals as a matter of standing policy.

Industrial consumers who divert their purchases from the industrial channel to the retail pump capture this cushion at the cost of the ordinary citizen. They also concentrate demand at the pump in a way that produces local shortages where none would otherwise exist, it added.

Published on May 29, 2026