CM Omar Abdullah reviews stock position of LPG, petrol and essential commodities amid middle-east crisis; reviews arrangements for Eid, Navratras

• Directs strict vigil against hoarding, black marketing; asks administration to keep public regularly informed

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level meeting to review the stock position of essential commodities and petroleum products in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the upcoming festivals of Eid and Navratras and the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Sakina Itoo and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Home, Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Commissioner Secretary Information, heads of departments, Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Director Information, Executive Director Indian oil Corporation Ltd Ashutosh Gupta, representatives of oil companies, and other concerned officers. The outstation officers attended the meeting through online mode.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the availability and supply position of petroleum products, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other essential commodities across Jammu & Kashmir. Addressing the officers, the Chief Minister emphasized that the administration must remain vigilant and proactive to ensure that no artificial scarcity, hoarding or black marketing is allowed to take place in any district.

“I think the administration as a whole is well aware of the situation and also on top of things. I would just like to reiterate that while the Food and Supplies Department does its work, this must be complemented and supplemented in the districts,” the Chief Minister said. He directed all Deputy Commissioners to maintain strict oversight at the district level to ensure smooth supply and fair distribution of essential commodities.

“Ensuring that there is no hoarding, artificial scarcity or black market conditions created will require strong oversight at the district level. Since all districts and Deputy Commissioners are connected to this meeting, please take these instructions on board,” he said. The Chief Minister further stressed that the administration must remain alert as the duration of the current crisis remains uncertain.

“We don’t know how long this will last. It could last a couple of days, it could last a few weeks. Let us assume it may last longer than we are comfortable with. Therefore, the alert that we are on must continue to ensure that no artificial scarcity or black marketing situations are created,” he said. He also directed the Information Department to keep the public regularly informed about the stock position and supply of essential commodities to prevent rumours and panic buying.

“Ensure that the Information Department keeps people informed on a regular basis so that we keep reassuring people about our strong position and the available supplies. By detailing the steps taken and the stock position, we can ensure that elements trying to misuse the situation are not able to do so,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also directed the administration to maintain constant vigil over the availability of commercial LPG, particularly in view of the ongoing Navratras, the upcoming Eid and the beginning of the tourist season. He called for taking inputs from stakeholders such as restaurateurs and hoteliers before any rationalization of commercial LPG supply is undertaken in view of tourist inflow expected and festive seasons ahead.

Earlier during the meeting, Minister Satish Sharma, who holds the portfolio of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, shared inputs and drew attention to certain elements that may attempt to exploit the prevailing situation. He assured the meeting that any unscrupulous elements trying to take advantage of the circumstances would be dealt with strictly and made an example of.

Similarly, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo stressed that Deputy Commissioners must ensure that no violations such as black marketing, hoarding or profiteering occur in their respective districts. He directed them to extend all possible support to the Legal Metrology and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs departments to ensure effective monitoring and enforcement during the current situation.

Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Saurabh Bhagat gave a detailed presentation on the supply and stock position of petroleum products and LPG in Jammu and Kashmir. The presentation highlighted that despite the global disruptions affecting the stock position of petroleum products and LPG in Jammu and Kashmir remains stable.

The meeting was informed that adequate reserves of petrol, diesel and LPG are available across storage facilities and distributorships in J&K. To ensure sustained availability and prevent misuse, several regulatory measures have been implemented. The meeting was also informed that the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system has been introduced to ensure that LPG cylinders are delivered only to genuine consumers. Oil marketing companies have also launched an e-KYC campaign to verify customer authenticity and identify inactive or duplicate LPG connections.

Regarding non-domestic LPG supplies, a temporary cap of 20 percent of the average monthly consumption has been placed, while ensuring uninterrupted supply to essential institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments. The presentation further informed that the Government of India has provided an ad-hoc allocation of 468 kilolitres of PDS Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) for cooking and lighting purposes, primarily targeting vulnerable groups including Antyodaya Anna Yojana families.