Fuel Shortage Reports Are Mere Rumours, Says Kolusu Parthasarathy

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information, Public Relations and Housing, Kolusu Parthasarathy , has rejected reports of a fuel shortage , accusing opposition groups of spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary panic among the public.

Speaking at a media interaction in Pamarru mandal of Krishna district , he clarified that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in the state. He attributed temporary pressure at some fuel stations to panic buying driven by rumours, adding that the government is working closely with oil companies to stabilise supply and restore normalcy .

Reaffirming the government’s focus on farmers, the minister said steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted diesel supply for agriculture and aquaculture. Payments for procured paddy are being credited to farmers within 24 to 48 hours , while issues faced by maize growers have been taken up with the Centre. He noted that around ₹800 crore has been utilised under the Price Stabilisation Fund, along with market intervention measures to support crops such as tobacco, cocoa and mango.

On infrastructure, Parthasarathy said the government is prioritising the modernisation of irrigation and drainage systems through dedicated funding and transparent execution, aimed at improving water access for farmers.

He added that fuel prices are largely influenced by global trends and central government policies, while the state is making efforts to minimise the burden on consumers. Urging people not to rely on unverified social media reports, he said Andhra Pradesh continues to attract major investments under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , with companies such as ArcelorMittal , Reliance Industries and Google showing strong interest, alongside projects worth nearly ₹9.8 lakh crore currently in progress.