LPG-cap after effects

Demand for kerosene-run wick stoves increases in Valley

16 November

Due to cap on domestic LPG supply, people in the Valley are turning to any-and-all options available in alternative fuels to keep the hearth in their kitchens going.
 

People here are not only searching for their old kerosene-run stoves but sales of the new stoves in the markets have also increased many fold as per shopkeepers and wholesalers dealing with such products.
Shopkeepers at Paldium market dealing with all kinds of cooking products say one such hot selling item is the kerosene-run wick stove these days.
 

Abdul Hameed, one of the distributors of the stove at the Paladium market said before the cap on LPG it would be army personnel and may be some people from far-flung areas who will buy this stove. But a number of people from within the city and other districts come to buy the wick stoves now.
 

Hameed is not alone, there are more than a dozen distributors in Srinagar who sell these stoves and say sales have increased many fold. These stoves come from a number of companies but among all, two brands, Pigeon and Maruti are most in demand.
 

“We have variety of stoves available of various qualities but Pigeon tops the list. Every day on an average I sell around 200 stoves daily to customers including retailers as well,” said Hameed.
 

Hameed, who also deals with the variety of gas stoves as well says, customers this year came in large numbers to buy these kerosene wick stoves due to the cap on LPG gas. These kerosene wick stoves with 10 wicks are available in different ranges with its different storage capacity of kerosene starting from 2 liters to 4 liters.
 

These stoves, besides being noiseless, are fuel efficient as well. A stove runs for 8 to 10 hours on just one liter of kerosene.
 

“The price starts from Rs 350 to Rs 800, low cost and lighter weight adds its sales value. Everyone here can afford these stoves,” said Mohammad Yaqoob, another distributor at Lal chowk.  
 

Every year the people of the valley has to witness electricity curtailment, Valley remains cut off from the rest of world in snowfall and more importantly the current cap on LPG proved boost for its increase in sale, he said.
 

These kerosene wick stoves are considered as a multi-function as people not only use for cooking food and boiling water, but also use it to heat up the room in winters.
 

“The current cap on LPG has pushed us to Stone Ages. Everyone is well aware about the harsh winter and the shortage of essential commodities in winter adds to our woes,” said a customer Abdul Razaq Bhanday.
Bhanday added that either they have to use wood for cooking or these kerosene stoves but he says the kerosene supply is also limited.