Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 11: In order to provide respite to the people of the State for getting LPG without any inconvenience, the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD), Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon today convened a joint meeting of the high level officers and representatives of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, (KTMF), Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and senior officers of Oil Companies functioning in the Valley.
The meeting discussed threadbare pros and cons of the policy which came into force from September 14, 2012 due to which the people of the State like other parts of the country were confronted with inconvenience in getting domestic LPG.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the State Government has already taken up the matter with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for enhancing the cap of subsidized gas cylinders in the State in view of its tough geographical and topographical conditions. He said that the State Government has taken the issue seriously and holds frequent meetings at various levels to find out any solution.
The Minister said that the unblocking of the genuine consumers has been started in the State and accordingly the Oil Companies have restored distribution and supply of the LPG in the City. He said that HPL is distributing 18 truck- loads of gas in Srinagar City daily while as IOC and Bharat Petroleum Corporation are distributing 5 truck loads and 4 truck loads respectively in the Srinagar city daily. The process will remain in operation till 17th October in the first instance.
The representatives of KTMF and KCCI suggested some remedial measures to ease the problems of the people. The Minister assured the meeting that the suggestions and demands put forth by the representative will be taken up with the higher authorities.
Besides, Secretary CA&PD Muhammad Abbas Dar, Director CA&PD Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, Senior Sales Manager, Oil Companies Haroon Hamid, from Civil Society Shakel Kalander, President, KTF, Jan Muhammad Koul, President KTMF Muhammad Sadiq Baqal, and veteran journalist Imdad Saqi attended the meeting.