Excelsior Correspondent
Leh, Apr 27: Leh is facing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) crisis forcing the flight operators to put restriction on cargo which has resulted in shortage of essential commodities in the region.
Ladakh which remains cut off for 6 month by surface due to blockage of high passes totally depends on flight service for transporting essential commodities during winter. The shortage of ATF in Leh has forced the flight operators to imposed restriction on cargo to accommodate ATF fuel for Leh-Delhi sector. This will continue till road opening to stock ATF.
Local ATF supplier Tsering refused to comment on the issue saying that he had to take permission from higher authority to speak to the media.
When Airport Authority Director Sonam Norboo was contacted for his comment he said that cargo parcel have been affected due to ATF shortage in Leh. He also said that Leh has limited storing capacity and statement from IOC reveals that hardly 20000 litres of ATF was left for emergency usage so all the Airlines have to carry enough fuel to reach back to Delhi. He said that such situation arises due to increase in the air traffic on Leh sector and informed that Leh Air Traffic has been increased from 4.6 lakh upto March 2016 to 5.7 lakh upto March 2017 thus fuel requirement demands increased and the supplier IOC had already sent proposal for future expansion of storing capacity in Leh.
Sources on the condition of anonymity revealed that Airlines had to bear the brunt of such problems and receiving number of complaints from the public for not carrying their cargos.
Merchant Association President Haji Riyaz Ahmed has stated that Ladakh region remained disconnected for six months by surface and during such period people are heavily dependent on Air Cargo for transporting various essential items and due to blockage of cargo at Delhi Airport the shopkeepers are suffering a lot which was ultimately leading to increase in their bank interest and the shopkeepers not able to do business.
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