Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU Jan 10: Kerosene shortage in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be over in next few days as the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is learnt to have agreed to the State Government’s demand for not curtailing its allocation quota under Public Distribution System.
The Petroleum Ministry has responded positively to the State Government’s formal request and agreed not to curtail its kerosene oil quota under PDS, which was considerably reduced for the last quarter of current financial year, official sources informed the Excelsior.
In its request to the Petroleum Ministry for a roll back on the decision of curtailing kerosene quota, the State Government explained that due to cold weather conditions in J&K and low electricity production during winter months, reduction in kerosene quota has made the things worse here, sources said.
Pertinent to mention that kerosene quota to States and the Union Territories was reduced all over the country in proportion to corresponding increase in LPG connections and keeping in view the reports that nearly 40 percent of PDS kerosene gets diverted and does not reach the beneficiaries. As per the order number P-21016/41/2012-Dist, dated December 31, 2014, the Union Petroleum Ministry cut the State quota for the 4th quarter of 2014-15 (January to March 2015) from 48.48 lakh litres to 30 lakh litres, a decrease of around 30 percent.
“The State Governments/UT Adminis-trations are to ensure that availability of subsidized kerosene is for the distribution under PDS to the targeted beneficiaries only for the purpose of cooking and illumination. They are also to ensure that kerosene is not diverted for adulteration of petrol/diesel or any other use,” further said that order, issued by under Secretary to the Government of India.
Following reduction in kerosene oil quota by the Union Petroleum Ministry, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department in Jammu and Kashmir was unable to provide the full quantity of kerosene under PDS, allotted to each ration card holder. Therefore, the State Government decided to reduce the quantity by one liter to each eligible family in the next two months, sources explained.
Kerosene allocation for J&K State (excluding Ladakh region) is given in two blocks. Forty percent of annual allocation is given for summer block (April-September) and the remaining 60 percent is released in winter (October-March). For the Ladakh region, State Government of J&K is allowed to uplift the entire allocation of kerosene oil during any time.
The reduction in the kerosene oil quota triggered a strong resentment among consumers and dealers in Jammu and Kashmir, who were seen up in arms against the Petroleum Ministry’s decision on the same.
Taking cognizance of the hue and cry over shortage of kerosene, sources said that the CAPD Department took up the matter with the Union Petroleum Ministry and explained with reasons the need for releasing full quota of J&K State, particularly in the wake of recent floods and devastation here.
When contacted, Commissioner Secretary CAPD Bashir Ahmad Khan confirmed that he talked to the concern authorities in the Union Petroleum Ministry for restoring the earlier quota in view of the chilly winter in J&K and other reasons while the Centre has responded positively to the State’s plea. Admitting that there was shortage of kerosene oil this month, he exuded confidence that the crisis would be over in next few days.
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