The breakdown in oil refinery plants of Bharat Petroleum Company Limited (BPCL) has created scarcity of petrol and diesel in Kashmir.
Sources said that the breakdown in refinery plant of BPCL where from petrol and diesel is being dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir, is currently undergoing through maintenance.
“This has led to fuel shortage to JK. Hopefully, the issue would be redressed in few days,” they said.
However, the shortage of fuel caused panic among people who were seen rushing to petroleum retail outlets to refill their vehicles.
“I have been told there is shortage of petrol in Kashmir as a result of which people are rushing to refill their vehicle, “ Ajaz Ahmad, a Srinagar resident.
General Secretary, Petroleum dealers association, Bilal Ahmad said majority of petroleum retail outlets of BPCL in Srinagar and other areas remain closed due to shortage in the supply of fuel. “Due to supply of HPCL and IOCL has also been exhausted,” he added.
Petroleum dealers said the shortage of petrol and diesel has created inconvenience to the public. There are three major oil companies which supply oil to valley Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
When contacted, Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Abdul Rashid War confirmed that BPCL oil refineries are undergoing maintenance work. “BPCL is not able to dispatch fuel in entire north region. However, the state government has already taken up the issue with state representatives of the Oil Company. They have assured us that petroleum supplied to retail outlets will be ensured so that people don’t face any inconvenience,” War said.
He added that earlier the Oil companies used to convey to the states about the time of undertaking maintenance work but this time they didn’t follow the procedure. “However the representatives of oil companies have assured of restoration of supply within shortest possible time,” he said..
