Farmers’ agitation disrupts train services in Pb
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 9: The petrol and diesel crisis has started deepening in Jammu and Kashmir with the ongoing agitation of farmers in Punjab and elsewhere in the country while many petrol pumps have gone dry in Udhampur and some other towns in Kashmir and Jammu areas.
Since yesterday, long queues of vehicles were seen at several petrol pumps, especially at Udhampur, Kud, Ramban, Poonch, Kathua and other parts of Jammu region. Today, most of the petrol pumps at Udhampur town and along National Highway went dry. Similar reports were received from Pattan, Sopore, parts of Srinagar city and Anantnag area.
Sources told the Excelsior that farmers’ agitation in Punjab and disruption of train services by them, has affected the petrol and diesel supplies to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Though the Oil compaies have diverted the tankers to Bathinda, Jallandhar and Sangrur in Punjab but even then the IOCL, HPCL and BPCL have failed to ensure adequate supplies to the petrol/diesel outlets in J&K.
The main Oil Depot at Jammu near Railway Station which meets supplies through tankers to Kashmir and Jammu province besides parts of Ladakh, has turned nearly dry and authorities there have refused supplies to the tankers for Kashmir and other parts of Jammu. These companies have been forcing the oil tankers to move to Bathinda and Jallandhar in Punjab to fetch fuel.
With the continued disruption of train services and failure of the Government to free the train tracks in Punjab, the oil crisis is growing up in Jammu and Kashmir. Though some senior officials of the Oil companies at Jammu are trying to play down the growing crisis, yet the reports being received from Kashmir valley and other districts of Jammu region revealed that crisis has deepened as pumps/ oulets are not getting routine adequate supplies.
President, J&K Petrol Dealers Association, Anan Sharma said that today all the petrol pumps at Udhampur went dry while reports from Poonch petrol pumps received indicated that they had supplies just for today evening. Many petrol pumps in Jammu city also remained dry for several hours and they were provided inadequate supplies on sharing basis (half tanker) this evening. Some outlets do not have petrol while other are without diesel. This situation is creating panic among the public.
Replying to a question, Sharma said, yesterday 45 tankers arrived from Punjab and some vehicles from Bathinda and Punjab arrived today but they will not be sufficient to meet the demand. He claimed that about 400 tankers on daily basis lift supplies from Jammu oil depot and 250 tankers were sent by Punjab during last two days against the demand of 800. With the large shortfall, the crisis may aggravate in coming days. He said in Srinagar and Jammu cities, the companies are focusing much by deputing tankers coming from Punjab but in other districts and rural areas, the crisis is more. He said if the Oil companies failed to ensure routine supplies, there will be major crisis in J&K in next couple of days.
The Association president further said Government must take initiatve to ensure free movement of trains in Punjab to over come the growing crisis. He said the supply crisis should not hit both the sensitive border UTs as huge volume of oil/ fuel is also being supplied to the vehicles of the security forces in the J&K and Ladakh.
Iftikhar Hassan, Executive Member Kashmir Oil Dealers Association said that Kashmir has also started feeling the heat of the growing crisis. He said several outlets are going dry since yesterday in many rural and suburban areas of Kashmir. Even in Srinagar city, this affect has been observed. The supplies of the outlets have been reduced to nearly half and is being provided on sharing basis. He said the tankers from Kashmir which were sent to Punjab have not returned with fuel. And if the supplies don’t arrive by tomorrow, more crisis will be witnessed.
Anther Member Najib Naqvi said from Jammu tanker normally arrives after four days due to worst conduition of highway in Ramban- Banihal sector and traffic jams on highway. From Bathinda, it may take two more days. Under such circumstances, the crisis is sure to errupt, he added.
Bilal Ahmed, another office bearer said though in Srinagar, the traffic movement these days has reduced due to COVID but the crisis is likely to hit in a day or two as fuel outlets are not getting adequate supplies. Most of the petrol pums are running out of stock in Kashmir, he said.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma when asked about the growing crisis of fuel in the region said the problem has been created due to agitation of farmers. The Governmet must take effective steps to ensure supplies to J&K through Punjab. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Oil companies to ensure supplies here. Verma, however, said that he would take up the issue with the concerned Oil Companies’ officers and inquire about the supply position.
J&K Coordinator and Dy General Manager IOCL, Rajesh Yadav when contacted said that due to ongoing farmers’ agitation in Punjab, the train wagons with petrol/diesel are not arriving in Jammu depot. He said the supplies by tankers from Jallandhar and Bathinda is being provided to J&K.
About 200 tankers have arrived in last two days and supplies are being rushed to the areas where shortage is being felt. He said in Udhampur town also, where reports of shortage were received, tankers were rushed this evening. Some vehicles were sent to Kashmir as well. He claimed that there will be no shortage and the Oil companies are trying their best to meet the supplies.
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