Issue to be resolved within two days, we are in touch with oil companies: Govt
Srinagar, May 11: Petroleum dealers in Kashmir valley Monday raised alarm that distribution of petrol and diesel through petrol pumps in Srinagar and other areas in Kashmir was in disarray owing to what they termed shortage of fuel being supplied.
According to Sources, a majority of petrol pumps in Srinagar and other areas on Monday remain closed due to shortage in the supply of fuel, Kashmir valley Petroleum dealers said the paucity of petrol and diesel had created inconvenience to the public and that the dealers had to wait for three or four days to get even inadequate supply of fuel after submitting the indent for it.
There are three major oil companies which supply oil to valley. They include Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. Supply is being given to Kashmir valley from Jammu. “Despite there should a stock of two lakh and seventy thousand liters but the depots are running dry. The oil companies have kept the depots dry and serious crises could any time emerge on ground,” Bilal Ahmad Bhat, general secretary of Kashmir Valley Petroleum Dealers told TKS.
He added that despite the fact that there are a total number of 1800 tankers of the oil companies available here but with a deliberate attempt the stock is being denied to Kashmir valley since past five days.
When contacted, Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Choudary Zulfikar Ali told TKS that he is in constant touch with the oil companies and the problem shall be resolved within two days.
The minister added that he has confirmed reports that Hindustan Petroleum has the stock of seven days in valley while as Indian Oil has a stock of ten days. He maintained that only Bharat Petroleum has the stock of three days left. “The Union Petroleum Minister has already held a meet with the oil company and I want to assure people here that the issue would be resolve within two days,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the dealers contest the claim saying the storage in the oil deports is meant for army and not for the common masses. Director CAPD also, as per the dealers has failed to discharge his duties. They said there is a proper enforcement wing of the CAPD but it has not kept a check over the oil depots in Kashmir.