To protest ‘dual authority’, LPG dealers to go for 2-day strike from today

Oilcos, J&K government issue contradictory guidelines: Dealers

06 November

Kashmir LPG Dealers’ Association is going for two-day strike from today (Tuesday) to protest “dual authority of oil companies and Jammu and Kashmir Government” and to press for a clear distribution policy on supply of domestic cooking gas to consumers in the state.
 

The dealers also claim that despite calling them for a meeting by director consumer affairs and public distribution, Mushtaq Ahmad, with divisional commissioner at his office on Monday to discuss the issue none of the officials, including the invite, were present at the venue and they have to return back after three hours wait.
 

“We are going for two day strike from Tuesday as we are confused after getting contradictory directions from oil companies and state government. We need to get it cleared from the government and oil companies that which one we have to follow,” said Vice-President of Kashmir LPG Dealers Association, Mohammas Aslam after holding a protest at press colony along with his other members.
 

He said that they have been following the guidelines from union petroleum ministry and their concerned oil companies but the state government is now issuing new direction which are opposite to that of oil companies. They need to know which directions they should follow, he said.
 

“The state government this month told us to distribute the non-subsidized gas to customers on their ration cards upto March next year for Rs 1273 but our concerned oil companies give us definite quota of subsidized gas cylinders for which we have to give account to companies every day. The company will cost us Rs 3000 per cylinder as fine if they find any sort of miss appropriation,” said Aslam.
 

He said that before making any new rule or passing any new direction to them, State government should discuss the matter with the oil companies.
 

“This only adds to our confusion and of general public and government needs to come up with comprehensive policy,” Aslam said.
 

He also criticized the government’s new guidelines to oil companies to increase the number of dealers from 43 to 14,00 LPG dealers in Kashmir.
 

“There are around 5500 LPG dealers in whole of India how can Valley accommodate 1400 dealers when there are several no-viable dealers who don’t have more than 10,000 customers and are running on no profit no loss basis,” said Aslam.
 

He also claimed that they were informed by Director CAPD to come to the meeting at Divisional Commissioner’s office on Monday to discuss these issues but after waiting for three hours outside his office none of the officials turn up.
 

“We were asked to come at 11:30 am and we reached there at 11:00 am but neither divisional commissioner nor any other official did turn up to the meeting and we left the place at 1:00 pm,” claimed Aslam.
 

When director CAPD, Mushtaq Ahmad was contacted by Kashmir Reader he said that he can’t say anything on the issue and divisional commissioner would be right person to comment on it.
“You can get the details about it from divisional commissioner,” the director said.
 

 Despite repeated calls on his mobile, divisional commissioner couldn’t be contacted.