By DeshGujarat News, New Delhi, 26 March 2012

Replying to a query in Rajya Sabha, Minister of state in the ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri RPN Singh agreed to the fact that public distribution system(PDS) Kerosene quota for Gujarat was rationalized last year. The minister however regretted inability to restore the earlier quota.

Minister RPN Singh in a reply in Rajya Sabha said, “during 2011-12, PDS Kerosene quota for the States/UTs, including Gujarat, was rationalized on account of (i) increase in domestic LPG coverage (during January to December, 2010) in respect of all the States/UTs barring States in the North East, island territories and J&K and States having coverage of Domestic LPG below national average; (ii) PDS Kerosene quota lapsed (during first three quarters of 2010-11) on account of non-liftment by States/UTs; and (iii) adjustments in the quota keeping in view higher per capita allocation of PDS kerosene to certain States/UTs during the previous year.”

The minister further said, “on the basis of provisional population figures of census 2011, the per capita allocation of PDS Kerosene for Gujarat is 11.2 litres per annum against the national average of 8.6 litres per annum. 55.20% of the population in Gujarat is covered under domestic LPG network as against the national average of 55.05%. In addition, there are 6.61 lakh Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections (March, 2011) in the State of Gujarat; however, these were not considered while making adjustment in the Kerosene quota. For the non-LPG population of Gujarat, the per capita allocation of PDS Kerosene is 24.9 litres per annum against the national average of 19 litres per annum.”

He further said, “the State Government of Gujarat has requested this Ministry for restoration of PDS Kerosene quota. Similar requests for enhancement / restoration of PDS Kerosene have also been received from several other States/UTs. However, this Ministry has regretted its inability to restore the earlier quota/enhance allocation as the action taken has been uniformly applied with a view to rationalizing the distribution of subsidized Kerosene in the country.”

The minister was replying to the question asked by Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Shri Kanjibhai Patel that whether it is a fact that Government has substantially reduced monthly quota of Kerosene oil to Gujarat? If so, the details thereof; and the reasons thereof. Whether the State Government of Gujarat has requested for restoration of monthly quota of Kerosene? And if so, what is Government’s reaction thereon?

A major cut in Kerosene quota is major state/centre issue so far as Gujarat is concerned.