Lahaul valley reels under petrol crisis

SHIMLA: Residents of the land-locked Lahaul valley are facing a severe petrol crisis, with the district authorities having to resort to its rationing.Som Dev, a resident of the valley,said that rationing of petrol had started a couple of days back and the districtauthorities had directed the lone petrol pump at Churpak near Tandi to give twolitres a week to two wheelers, five litres a week to four wheelers and 10 litresa week has been allotted for power tillers. "As of now permits are not beinggiven for petrol, but the pump authorities have been asked to maintain a recordand ensure that no one is given extra fuel," he added.Sources in thedistrict agriculture office at Keylong said that the prime concern was not thatthe vehicles may soon go off the roads if petrol stocks do not reach the town,but that the sowing of peas and potatoes in the valley could be adverselyaffected. "The power tillers used by the farmers would be rendered useless forthey run on petrol and not diesel, which has a tendency to freeze in the lowtemperatures of the valley."Deputy commissioner Laual and SpitiRajeev Shankar admitted that there was an acute shortage of petrol and rationinghad been resorted to. However, he said that the situation was undercontrol.He said that just before the onset of winters, before theRohtang pass closes, petrol and other necessities are stored to meet therequirements till April end or first week of May, by which time the passnormally opens for traffic. "However, due to a severe winter and extendedsnowfall, the pass was yet to open thereby causing the shortage," hesaid.Meanwhile, Col (works) Deepak Project S S Pathania said thatthey had targeted to open the Rohtang Pass for small vehicles by May 25,provided the weather does not take a turn for the worse. "Once the pass isopened for small vehicles, it is a matter of time for bigger vehicles to ply onthe route," he maintained.