Need revival of subsidised firewood, kerosene supply in winters: Qayoom Wani

Srinagar, Nov 11: Amidst growing apprehensions about a harsh and prolonged winter predicted this year, the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum chairman, Qayoom Wani has expressed concern over the expected power curtailments and breakdowns that may severely affect normal life, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.

In a statement, Wani said that the fear of massive power cuts during freezing months is not just about inconvenience but about survival for many, especially winter-sensitive patients who depend on power-supported oxygen concentrators and heating equipment. He said it is alarming that, at a time when modern needs have multiplied, the traditional lifelines of the valley—subsidized firewood and kerosene oil—have disappeared from the public distribution system.

Wani recalled that there was a time when firewood was a rightful household entitlement, made available through the Forest Department at subsidised rates, ensuring that every family could manage basic heating during extreme cold. Today, that very facility has become a distant memory, leaving ordinary citizens at the mercy of soaring market prices and erratic electricity.

He further emphasized that kerosene oil, once the most reliable source for lighting and heating during power cuts, is now almost non-existent in government supply chains, disproportionately affecting low-income families and rural households.

JKCSF urged the government to revisit its energy and welfare policies to ensure that the people of Kashmir are not left helpless in the face of harsh winters. The Forum appealed to  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other key stakeholders to immediately take stock of the situation and revive the subsidized distribution of kerosene oil and firewood in all winter-affected regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Wani reiterated that ensuring heating access during winter is not a privilege—it is a necessity, and the government must recognise its moral and humanitarian obligation toward the people living in extreme climatic zones.