Jammu, March 31 Jammu and Kashmir Minister Satish Sharma said on Tuesday that the Union Territory has sufficient stocks of petroleum products and urged the public to ignore rumors.
"According to the daily stock position reports provided by oil marketing companies (OMCs), the availability of petrol, diesel, and LPG is adequate as of now, with sufficient petroleum product supplies," said Sharma, the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, while responding to a Calling Attention Notice in the Legislative Assembly.
The motion was moved by CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami, who referred to the deteriorating situation in West Asia following the US-Israel attack on Iran and its impact on J&K.
The Minister said that the department is maintaining regular monitoring of the availability and distribution of LPG and petroleum products across J&K.
"Geopolitical tensions have triggered panic buying and a spike in the consumption of petrol, diesel, and LPG beyond normal levels. According to the reports provided by the oil marketing companies, the stocks are adequate," he said, urging the public to ignore rumors, as the overall supply remains stable and sufficient despite the temporary surge in demand.
Sharma said that divisional and district-level control rooms are in place and functional.
"The department is conducting regular inspections across the districts to strictly check and prevent any instances of hoarding and black marketing. The government is taking strict action against those found violating norms, imposing fines and penalties for any irregularities," he said.
The Minister said that the department is conducting detailed inspections and raids, besides undertaking punitive action including fines and penalties against hoarders and black marketers, and FIRs have also been lodged.
Since March 17, 3,442 inspections and raids have been conducted, and several FIRs have been launched, with 252 grievances redressed, he said.
Tarigami called for more steps to address the emerging situation.
"The entire Gulf region has already come within the ambit of war… and if we think that this situation will remain confined to that region and will not affect us, we are mistaken.
"Even the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has warned the people of a COVID-like situation. So this is a more challenging time for all of us, a truly challenging period," Tarigami said.
He highlighted reports from multiple areas that farmers have been advised to discontinue spraying, questioning whether it is appropriate to trigger an alarm when the economy is heavily reliant on horticulture.