KL Report
SRINAGAR
As Kashmir is still recovering from the shock of devastating floods that hit it in September last year, Union Petroleum Ministry has reduced the quota of kerosene to Valley by 18.48 lakh per month giving another worry to people in chilly winters.
Sources told KNS that till now Valley was getting 48.48 lakh litres per month allocation in two blocks of October-December for winters and January-March for summer months. The allocation was as per 2008 decision.
According to 2011 census there are 10 lakh ration card holders in Kashmir Valley and according per ration card was getting 4.48 litres of kerosene on an average per month which the dealers and consumers say is just 33 percent of the actually requirement.
However, to make the things worse, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas vide Order No: P-21016/41/2012-Dist dated 31 December 2014 has cut the already deficit quota from 48.48 lakh litre to 30 lakh litres. Now, according to the new allocation, per ration card holder will get on an average three litres of kerosene per month.
Commissioner Secretary Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Bashir Ahmad Khan said that they have taken up the issue with the concerned authorities in the centre. He confirmed that there is shortage of kerosene this month but last month they gave double quota to consumers.
Coordination Committee Retail Kerosene Oil Dealers alleged that Kashmir was being discriminated in the allocations. “It is a new year gift from the centre government to Kashmiris. While there is already shortage of LPG and electricity in this chilly winter, the reduction in kerosene quota will make the things worse,” they said.
They said livelihood of 4000 people on retail depots is solely dependent on it. “We feed our families when we earn meager amount from selling kerosene. When government will reduce the already deficit quota it will make things worse for us,” they said.
