KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas New Delhi has decided to reduce the winter share of Kerosene for Kashmir valley. It is fourth such decision in last four years which has constantly reduced the kerosene share of Valley, the oil dealers said on Monday.
Earlier, Kashmir procured 61 lakh litres from the Union Government for winter months that extend from October to March but the same has been reduced since 2013.
“Up to 2013 winter, Kashmir received at least 61 lakh litres of Kerosene per month,” said Secretary of Kashmir Valley Wholesale Kerosene Oil Dealers Union on Monday afternoon.
“The same was reduced to 41 lakh litres per month in 2015 winter,” he informed.
“This year the Union ministry concerned has further reduced it to 28 lakh litres per month which has come as shock to us,” the Secretary of the Kerosene Oil Dealers Union said.
The decision has been taken, he said, despite “20% increase in the number of ration card holders”.
The Union office bearers said that when Kashmir would procure 61 Lakh litres of kerosene per winter month, each ration card holder would take 11 litres of kerosene home. “The kerosene quota for each family reduced to 9 litres when Kashmir was allotted only 51 lakh litres per month in 2015 winter,” they added.
But the quota was further reduced in 2015 winter because Kashmir was given only 41 lakh litres each month. “A Ration card holder was given 7 litres in that period.”
The Union said, “if Kashmir is given only 28 lakh litres per month this winter, a ration card holder will be getting “only 2.5 litres” of kerosene a month.”
“We are unable to understand the formula and the justice behind the decrease of 41% quota in Kashmir,” the Union statement said, “there is decrease of to 4% only in other states.”
The union said that Kashmir procured kerosene twice a year. “One quota is for winter months and another is for summer season which is less than that of winter for people consume more kerosene in winters.”
28 dealers supply kerosene to Kashmir. “There are 2700 depot holders in Valley who take a commission of 40 paisa per litre home,” the Union members said, “all of us will further suffer in the new situation.”
