Srinagar, Sep 10: More than a year of its announcement by the government, the LPG filling stations are yet to come up in Kashmir.
 Even as the state government maintains that the land has been identified for setting up of the filling stations in Kashmir, officials in the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), nodal agency for the project, rebut.
 “We have not identified any land as yet for installation of the stations,” officials in IOC on condition of anonymity said.

Announcement
 Amid cooking gas shortage and complaints of its use in the vehicles last year, Minister for Consumer and Affairs Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon had announced that in order to curb the “misuse” of cooking gas, the state will have five LPG filling stations for vehicles within few months.
Action
 Two filling stations in Jammu have been made operational. But in Kashmir work is yet to start. 

Government’s take
 Minister for Consumer and Affairs Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon told Greater Kashmir that land has been identified for setting up of the stations.
 “Government has assigned the job of installing the filling stations to IOC. It would be appropriate if you talk to them regarding the matter,” the minister said.

IOC stand
 When contacted an official of  IOC ( wishing anonymity ) said: “We have not identified any location in Kashmir for setting up of the filling stations till now.”
 “As soon as we will acquire the land we will initiate the work of commissioning two gas filling stations in Kashmir,” he added.

Other facts
 Pertinently, according to officials in Transport Department there are more than 80,000 vehicles in the state using gas as fuel. 
 To mention, in the wake of acute shortage of LPG in the Valley, the traders and vehicles owners here had demanded opening of gas filling stations in the state.
 Even the officials of CAPD are pitching for setting up of filling stations to cater to LPG requirement in the Valley.
 “Most of the people are using LPG as a fuel in their vehicles, which creates shortage of gas in the market and we are not able to cater to the requirements. As per our schedule LPG cylinders is to be refilled after 21 days, but nowadays we are witnessing large number of domestic gas cylinders being used in vehicles and for us it is very difficult to check the violation.”
 Even the Transport department is allowing registration of the vehicles with gas kits installed in it.
 “Many private vehicles being registered are Duo- LPG vehicles. It is irony that government is not  thinking  how will these vehicles refuel, when there is no LPG filling stations,” an official of Regional Transport office said.
 Officials said that during winter months it becomes almost impossible to meet the requirements of LPG in the Valley due to its use in the vehicles.
 Interestingly, last year Divisional Administration Kashmir had ordered to the gas supplying companies to add chemicals to the gas cylinders to render them useless for vehicles.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST