IOC denies shortage of petroleum products

Vishal Joshi

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Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, February 25

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has denied reports of shortage of petroleum products during the Jat agitation. It confirmed smooth supply of kitchen gas and petroleum products.

Officials at the IOC’s refinery in Panipat told The Tribune that supplies through Railways started on Wednesday. “All oil dumps, 10 oil depots and seven LPG plants in the state have adequate stock to meet the demand. Any report of a shortage is unfounded,” the IOC said.

“Barring violence-hit Rohtak, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jhajjar and Sonepat, availability of petroleum products to all other places remain normal. As the regular transportation of refined petroleum products resumed on Wednesday, the supply in the northern region has been strengthened,” N Shiva Kumar, chief manager, IOC’s communication wing, said. He denied claims of shortfall in supply. “Nearly 10 retail outlets went dry, as the supplies were cut because of road blockades and violence during the agitation,” Kumar claimed. Kumar said supply could not be affected much as a majority of refined kitchen gas, petrol and diesel were sent to the stock points through IOC’s underground network of pipelines. “A small amount of refined products are dispatched from the Panipat refinery through road or railways. Dealers get their supplies from sale points in each district and the refinery did not cut its production during the agitation,” he said.