The desert districts of Kargil and Leh would soon have LPG bottling plants to cater to the local needs.“The Kargil district would also have its own oil depot,” representatives of oil companies said at a meeting chaired by the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali on Wednesday. The Minister asked oil companies, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to expedite work of establishing an oil depot and bottling plant in Kargil, and another bottling plant in Leh. He said there should be urgency in establishing the oil depot and bottling plants as it will help to avoid fuel shortage in the region which remains cut off during winter months. He said availability of essential supplies, including oil and gas are must for people living across the state. He said keeping inclusive development of every region in mind, it is imperative that irrespective of geographical location, every area in the State receive a fair share of its infrastructural development and get benefits at par with any other place.
The Minister directed both the companies to complete all the formalities in this regard by June this year. The meeting was also informed that work on 12 petrol pumps with six each at Leh and Kargil would also be started soon. The Minister fixed September 2017 as deadline to complete the work. He said timely completion would benefit both consumers as well as the oil companies.Deputy Commissioner Kargil Gulzar Hussain informed the Minister that district administration is extending all possible support to the oil companies. He said 68 kanals of land have been acquired for execution of various works.The Minister also asked HPCL to enhance their capacity and ensure that consumers do not face any kind of inconvenience.The Minister also directed that identified land of around 70 kanal for establishing oil depot in Anantnag by BPCL should be now given to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).The Minister also instructed Deputy Commissioner Rajouri to identify 200 kanal land for construction of oil depot and gas bottling plant near under construction medical college.
He also asked Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill development Council (LAHDC) to formulate a proposal to highlight places where gas agencies are required to be established under different schemes.The Minister also directed the oil companies to provide the consumers with the mandatory facilities like washroom and air filling facilities at their gas stations.He urged the oil companies to contribute in development of public infrastructure at all places where they are establishing new ventures to meet their corporate responsibility. He said the companies should formulate a rehabilitation plan with provision for facilities of school and health care in the areas where they are starting their ventures like oil depot or gas bottling plant.
The shifting of oil depot situated near Railway Head in Jammu was also discussed. Expressing his concern over the issue, the Minister said that shifting of oil depot from its present location is a must as it is a serious “security hazard.” He reiterated the concerned to remove all the bottlenecks and expedite the shifting work of the oil depot to the new identified place.The Minister also sought update regarding the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme. He stressed upon the oil companies to clear all pendency by the end of June and ensure the benefits of the scheme reach to the deserving people only.Secretary FCS&CA Shafiq Raina, Director FCS&CA RA Inqallibi, State Level Coordinator, IOCL Hari Anupam, Senior Regional Manager HPCL Ajaz Kachroo, Senior Territory Manager BPCL, Rajesh Sharma and other concerned attended the meeting.