Kashmir Press Service
Srinagar: Petroleum dealers in Kashmir valley Monday raised alarm that distribution of petrol and diesel through petrol pumps across Kashmir was in disarray owing to what they termed shortage of fuel being supplied.
According to Kashmir Press Service (KPS), a majority of petrol pumps in Kashmir 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,” a Petroleum dealer said.
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 and being diverted to Ladkah region.
At various places protests were also held by drivers especially running the commercial vehicles due to shortage of petrol on pumps run by Bharat Petroleum. They have urged the company authorities to look into the issue and resume the petrol supply to the State immediately as suspension in the supply of petrol has led to a lot of problem to them.
When contacted HPCL sales in-charge Kashmir division, Haroon Ahmad said that shortage was occurred due to highway closure and now stock is on way.
While responding to the allegation that fuel is being diverted to Ladakh region, he said that the sanction is done year ahead now we are just diverting additional quota to Ladakh just to make sure they receive sanctioned stock before snow closes the road.
Meanwhile, Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs was not available for his comments despite several attemps.
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