Kalahandi: is facing a bad fuel crisis. This is causing a lot of problems for businesses, people who run transport services and daily wage workers. The owners of petrol pumps and oil tankers are saying that they cannot give diesel in containers because of old government orders. This has stopped local industries from working and it is threatening the jobs of thousands of workers.
For a time local crusher owners, rice mill owners and construction contractors have been buying diesel in big drums. They need to use diesel to run machines like stone crushers, generators, road rollers, concrete mixers and harvesters. These machines cannot be taken to a fuel station to fill up. The only way to get fuel is to carry it in containers.. Now the petrol pump owners are using old safety rules as an excuse to not give fuel and this is causing a lot of problems.
The fuel crisis is affecting industries. Truck drivers who work with the crusher industry say that they cannot transport stones and this will stop infrastructure projects.
Rice mill owners are also facing problems. They need diesel generators to run their machines because the power supply is not reliable. If they do not get diesel they will have to stop working. This will cause big financial losses.
The people who are suffering the most are the wage workers. Thousands of workers depend on construction sites for their income.. Because the machines are not working due, to the lack of diesel the work has stopped and these workers are struggling to feed their families. A worker asked, “If they stop giving us fuel using rules how will we feed our families?”
Local people think that if safety is a concern the government should find a solution. Of stopping everyone from buying diesel in drums the government should make a system to check who is buying the fuel. People who have an identity proof or registration should be allowed to buy diesel in drums.
Many groups, including labor unions and business associations are asking the District Administration and the Food Supplies Department to help and give instructions to end this problem before it becomes a big economic disaster.
