Srinagar: The government on Saturday sought to calm panic stricken people in Kashmir Valley, underlining that the rationing of fuel ordered by it was because of shortage of stocks from persistent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Talking to INS, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan said said that efforts are underway to replenish the stocks at the earliest and that the rationing order will be withdrawn as soon as the stocks are received.
“People need not to panic,” he said and asked the general public not to heed the rumours suggesting other motives and sought their cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) this evening clarified that the order to lift ration from its stores was a routine monthly exercise to make way for dumping next supplies.
“This is a routine monthly exercise and people are advised not to panic, the spokesman said.
Moreover, the spokesman said, the said order also has been withdrawn to clear any confusion.”
The order (NO. FCS&CA/sgr-south/19/108) required all the TSO’S of Srinagar south to ensure complete sale of food grains by Saturday evening “positively”.
It had also sought information about sale of food grains up to 22/02/2019 which was to be submitted to the directorate’s office by or before 01:30 pm Saturday “by any means of communication.”
“It shall be the personal responsibility of concerned TSO to inform all the storekeepers/in-charge storekeepers/FP shop dealers to remain available at their respective sale centers,” the order had said.
Furthermore, the director had ordered that all the sale centers/FP shops of Srinagar south shall remain open on Sunday for sale of food grains in the interest of the general public, besides receiving of trucks loaded with food grains.