Petrol shortage: Union Minister intervenes
Srinagar: In the backdrop of fuel crises in Kashmir valley, Union Petroleum Minister Darmendra Pradhan Tuesday chaired a high level meeting with Federal Petroleum companies and asked them to resolve the issue within two days.
Vivek Dhasmana, one of the top officials in Joint secretary refinery and administration said that the meeting was held between the Petroleum Minister and officials of the federal petroleum companies on Tuesday afternoon. The Minister has instructed the oil companies to resolve the issue within two days. I can tell you with the responsibility that the issue will be resolved within two days, he said.
Dhasmana said that the Minister expressed his anger against the petrol companies and oil and regulatory authority for not keeping the storage of petrol and diesel in Jammu and Kashmir. Three major oil supplying companies that supply oil to Kashmir- Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BP) and Hindustan Petroleum (HP). The supplies to Jammu and Kashmir have been delayed as operation of five refineries has been affected due to technical upgrade and maintenance shutdown amid an unusual spike in demand, he said.
Petroleum dealers in the Valley Monday alleged that distribution of petrol and diesel through petrol pumps in Srinagar and other areas was in disarray due to shortage of fuel supply.
Meanwhile, petroleum dealers Tuesday rejected government claims that valley has petrol stock of 17 days and said that the stock was available only up to Tuesday evening.
Not a single liter of petrol or diesel will be available from Wednesday. Government claims are false that valley has stock of 17 days. I can say with the authority that the petrol pumps will be dry from Wednesday morning, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, general secretary of Kashmir Valley Petroleum Dealers said.
Anxious people of the valley rushed to refill their vehicles on Tuesday, while long queues were seen outside the filling stations in the summer capital due to emerging fuel crisis in the Kashmir valley.
Several dealers in the valley also preferred to shut-down their petrol pumps after raising an alarm that they were facing a shortage in fuel supply due to which many outlets have begun to dry up. We are facing huge inconvenience as our deposits are running dry which in turn has affected the public, a dealer said.KNS
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