“The shortage of LPG cylinders during mid winter months is mostly attributed to unprecedentedly reduced movement of supplies on Jammu-Srinagar highway for abou4-5 month long peak winter period”.
The availability of domestic LPG cylinders and their delivery at the doorsteps of the consumers during winter in Kashmir is as good a pressing concern for consumers as is the availability of power and it’s hassle free supply but availability of domestic LPG cylinders and their delivery at the doorsteps of the people is not as hassle free as it should have been during winter due to frequent shutting down of Jammu-Srinagar highway by landslides triggered by rains and snow very frequently. There are also many more caused for the shortage of the domestic LPG cylinder during peak winter periods in Kashmir Valley. Though Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department in Kashmir reviews the availability of stocks from time to time and assures hassle free availability of essential commodities particularly domestic LPG cylinders but unfortunately shortage of LPG cylinders in the wake of prolonged shutting down of Jammu- Srinagar highway haunts consumers more intensely than the shortage of many other essential commodities during mid winter months. The shortage of LPG cylinders during mid winter months is mostly attributed to unprecedentedly reduced movement of supplies on Jammu-Srinagar highway for abou4-5 month long peak winter period. Since the availability of domestic LPG cylinders continue showing reducing trends from November till March due to reduced movement of supplies on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the shortage of domestic LPG cylinders due to lavish use of heating appliances run on domestic LPG cylinders also increases unprecedentedly the demand for domestic LPG cylinders with every passing day during mid winter months in Kashmir Valley. The reduced power supply triggered by unscheduled power cuts more intensely this year than the previous years necessitates hassle free supply of LGP cylinders in mid winter months this year and as such frequent review of the supply of LPG cylinders demands and deserves immediate attention and intervention of the top brass of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department from now onwards.
“As the demand of domestic LPG cylinders spikes with falling winter temperatures before peaking in January this year, the curbs on misuse of LPG cylinders at the both the Government offices and as well as the trade outlets through regular inspections could reduce the spike in demand for domestic LPG cylinders and further the causes of their hassle free supply during peak winter period in Kashmir Valley.”
While regulating the movement of the supply of LPG cylinders would ensure their hassle free supply to the domestic consumers, the use of LGP cylinders instead of commercial LPG cylinders for running the heating appliances at both the Government offices and as well as local trade outlets if not controlled and contained through regular inspections would also inevitably result in unprecedented shortage of domestic LPG cylinders during mid winter months in Kashmir valley. As the demand of domestic LPG cylinders spikes with falling winter temperatures before peaking in January this year, the curbs on misuse of LPG cylinders at the both the Government offices and as well as the trade outlets through regular inspections could reduce the spike in demand for domestic LPG cylinders and further the causes of their hassle free supply during peak winter period in Kashmir Valley.
