Kerosene supply fails to meet demand

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1: The wide disparity between the supply and distribution of kerosene has lead to growing resentment among the kerosene c...

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1: The wide disparity between the supply and distribution of kerosene has lead to growing resentment among the kerosene consumers in the city. Long queues can be seen at every outlet in the city.

According to a senior UT official, the shortage has been prevailing since July following Union Government’s direction to cut down the city’s share of kerosene by 30 per cent. To tide over the situation, he added, monthly allocation of kerosene to those with single LPG cylinder connection, has been reduced to 3 litre per card holder. Those with double cylinder connection are not being provided any kerosene at subsidised rates for cooking purposes.

The official stated that in the winter season, the demand for kerosene often goes up by 100 per cent.

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A visit by the Newsline team to some outlets, including kerosene pumps in Sector 45, 37 and 26 near Transport Nagar, presented a glaring picture. A conversation with those forming the queues revealed that some have been there since 3 a.m. "There’s nothing unusual about it. We have to wait for hours whenever kerosene is required," said Raj Kumari, of Faida village near Sector 45.

Parwati, a resident of Colony No. 5, revealed that she had been at the Sector 45 kerosene pump over five hours. She can avail of 15 litre of kerosene only.

The UT Food and Supplies Department officials said they have started a door to door campaign to weed out duplicate ration card holders.

The UT Administration’s decision to issue ration cards even without producing deletion certificate has aggravated the situation, it is said.