Valley faces K Oil Shortage

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Sinagar, Oct 15: With the winter knocking at its doors, earlier than expected, the Kashmir valley is facing a procession of winter-related crisis. Beginning with the cap on subsidized cooking gas, the government announced power cuts, scheduled and unscheduled, effective from Saturday, and now, it faces kerosene oil shortage.

Quoting the director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, reports said the Valley was facing a shortfall of 22 lakh liters of kerosene oil against its overall requirement.

For a total of about 10 lakh ration tickets, we need at least 70 lakh liters of K oil per month from the central government. However, we are getting 48 lakh liters, which is why every household is not getting its share of K oil, he said, adding that the state was getting the commodity on the basis of 1990 Census. Against an entitlement of seven liters, we are able to provide three to five liters to every card holder, he said.

Nevertheless, Mir hastened to clarify there was no shortage of food grains and other essential commodities in the valley. We have three lakh quintal rice, 45800 quintal wheat and about 34,000 quintal sugar available in our stocks, he said, adding the stocks would suffice at least two months.

Claiming that ration was available at every ration depot, the director said the food grains were supplied to the retail outlets according to a roster and as it was not possible to send it everywhere in a single day.

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Asked if there was any black marketing of kerosene oil especially in view of its use in heavy motor vehicles, the director said, We have a special team which checks these practices. However, no such complaint has been received till date.

The director said there was no shortage of cooking gas in the valley either. Oil companies have a stock of more than 2 lakh cylinders, which is more than sufficient, he added.

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