CHANDIGARH: The farmers’ protest in Punjab has led to the fuel supply shortage in J&K and Ladakh. The union territories bordering Pakistan and China are reportedly getting 70% supply via road as the goods trains have been cancelled due to the agitation.
Rahul Gupta, general secretary of J&K Petroleum Dealers Association told this paper over phone that prior to the agitation, petrol and diesel reached Jammu by rakes from refineries at Panipat in Haryana and Bathinda in Punjab. The supplies were then taken onward through tankers to the 675 petrol filling stations.
“As much as 1,200 kilolitre of petrol and 1,500 kilolitre of diesel are being consumed daily across J&K. But we are getting around 70% of the supply. As of now, around 200 trucks arrive at Jammu depots with fuel from various oil companies, but we need at least 300 trucks daily,” said Gupta. These oil tankers in Jammu take a lot of time in clearing the paperwork. “It is a time consuming process,’’ says Gupta.
A few rakes are stuck in Karnal, Haryana, and others near Jalandhar in Punjab due to the agitation. In Ladakh the fuel stocks have to be stored due to the winter season, he said, adding around 3,000 trucks are coming daily to Kashmir from Delhi to take apple consignments.Gupta says the supply situation can turn critical as fuel is supplied to the Army and other security forces. Kerosene is also used in a large quantity in J&K in the winters.
Top court issues notice to Centre on two petitions
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on two petitions challenging the three farm laws recently passed by Parliament. A bench headed by CJI S A Bobde asked the Attorney General K K Venugopal, who was present for the virtual hearing along with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to file a response on the petition. The petitions were filed by Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress’ Rakesh Vaishnav and DMK MP Tiruchi Siva. However, the bench refused to entertain the plea of advocate M L Sharma to quash the legislations, and asked him to withdraw his petition.