Lanka deploys troops to filling stations as queues for fuel lengthen
Colombo (PTI): Sri Lanka on Tuesday deployed military personnel at state-run petrol pumps to monitor and manage fuel distribution amidst a shortage that led to serpentine queues of consumers outside filling stations.
The island nation is facing an acute economic and energy crisis triggered due to shortage of foreign exchange. A sudden rise in prices of key commodities and fuel shortage forced tens of thousands of people to queue for hours outside petrol filling stations. People are also facing long hours of power cuts daily.
Unarmed soldiers were seen at fuel retail stations run by state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on Tuesday morning.
We decided to deploy military personnel at petrol sheds to tackle unwanted situations where people are taking fuel in cans to do business, energy minister Gamini Lokuge told reporters here.
They will ensure that fuel is being distributed fairly amongst the people," he said.
The troops are deployed at fuel retail stations where serpentine queues were seen for weeks.
At least four deaths have been reported as people queued up for fuel. Of the four deaths, three were of senior citizens who died of exhaustion on Saturday while waiting in long queues outside petrol filling stations for over six hours in torrid heat, and one was due to a stabbing that followed a scuffle at the fuel line on Sunday.
The forex crisis halted smooth import of fuel, cooking gas and most essentials. The government has sought Indian credit lines to ensure supply of essentials, including fuel.
Last week India announced to extend a USD 1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka as part of its financial assistance to help the country deal with the economic crisis. New Delhi had extended a USD 500 million line of credit to Colombo in February to help it purchase petroleum products.
Meanwhile, angry citizens accused the government of formulating short- sighted policies, which they said caused the crisis.
Sri Lanka is facing its all-time worst foreign exchange crisis after the pandemic hit the nation's earnings from tourism and remittances. By December last, the reserves position had plummeted to just one month's imports or a little over USD 1 billion.
The forex crisis triggered the energy shortage as Sri Lanka experienced loss of foreign reserves to fund imports on top of heavy international debt servicing obligations.
Sri Lanka had over USD 7.5 billion in debt payments to meet at the beginning of this year. A USD 500-million payment was made in January amidst calls from experts to default in order to fund imports.
Another USD 1 billion international bond payment is due in July.
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
