Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir has sufficient stocks of fuel and essential commodities to last around 21 days, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Satish Sharma said on Monday. He added that kerosene distribution, which was suspended after J&K was declared kerosene-free, had been temporarily resumed, with around 2.5 litres to be provided per family amid the ongoing geopolitical crisis.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Tulip Show inauguration by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, Sharma said the administration is closely monitoring the supply chain and will take strict action against those indulging in black-marketing.
“We have sufficient stock for around 21 days. Some people have been found involved in black-marketing, and whoever is found guilty, whether it is a petrol pump or a gas agency, their licence will be cancelled,” the minister said, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Sharma said that although Jammu and Kashmir had earlier become a kerosene-free region, the government has decided to reintroduce kerosene distribution as a temporary relief measure during the current situation. “We were a kerosene-free state, but we have started kerosene distribution again. This will provide significant support to people,” he said.
The minister said the government’s priority is to ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential commodities and prevent inconvenience to the public. “We are servants of the people. Anyone involved in adulteration, hoarding or creating artificial scarcity will face strict action, no matter how influential they are,” he said.
Later, in a video statement, Satish Sharma said the government is monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and has deployed multiple enforcement teams across districts to prevent hoarding and artificial shortages of LPG, petrol and other essential commodities.
He warned that LPG distributors, petrol pump owners or traders found violating rules will face blacklisting and cancellation of licences.
Sharma appealed to the public to avoid panic buying, assuring that the government has adequate domestic supplies and is coordinating with the Government of India to enhance LPG allocation for the region.
He added that the government has also decided to provide around 2.5 litres of kerosene per family as a temporary relief measure to support households during the ongoing crisis.
Highlighting the tourism potential of Kashmir, the minister said the government led by CM Abdullah is committed to development and strengthening the tourism sector.
Calling Kashmir the “Switzerland of India”, he expressed hope that the region will witness record tourist footfall this year, particularly with the opening of Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar.
“We hope tourists will arrive in record numbers and there will be no inconvenience to them. Our focus remains prosperity and progress,” the minister said.
