Association seeks Permission for Stocking Extra Cylinders amid Highway Closures
Srinagar | : Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Transport, Information Technology, and Youth Services & Sports, Satish Sharma Wednesday met a delegation of Kashmir LPG distributor Association, led by Jag Mohan Singh Raina.
The delegation highlighted the difficulties faced by the distributors and consumers due to recurring gas shortages.
The delegation raised the issue of frequent disruptions in LPG supply, attributing the situation to repeated closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and ongoing maintenance works that are hampering timely transportation of gas cylinders to various regions, particularly in the Kashmir valley and remote areas.
They urged the Minister to grant special permission for LPG distributors to stock additional gas cylinders beyond the current regulated limits. They emphasized that such a provision would help prevent shortages during periods of road blockage or adverse weather, especially in hilly and high-altitude areas.
Satish Sharma, while interacting with the delegation, acknowledged the genuine nature of their concerns. He assured the association that the matter would be taken up with relevant authorities, including the Oil Marketing Companies and Disaster Management departments.
“The government is committed towards ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, especially LPG, to every household. We will explore all feasible solutions including temporary relaxation of stocking limits under proper safety norms,” the Minister said.
He further directed the FCS&CA department to conduct a joint review with district administrations and oil companies to assess region-wise vulnerability to supply disruptions and identify suitable storage mechanisms.
The Minister emphasized that advance winter stocking plans need to be strengthened in all vulnerable districts. He emphasized the importance of coordination among civil administration, transporters and oil companies for maintaining supply chain efficiency.
