Kerosene allocation on a downhill trend

New Delhi, Aug 1: The Kerosene allocation for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) to various states and Union Territories including Kerala was reduced every year beginning 2001-02 and upto 2004-05, taking into account the number of LPG connections released.

In 2001-02 the quantity of kerosene was 2,69,497 metric tonnes (MTs) while in 2006-07 (April-September 2006) it was 1,08,154 MTs, Minister of State for Petroleum Dinshaw Patel said in a written reply.

He said the ministry has received representations from various state government and union territories inlcluding the Kerala government for the enhancement of their SKO (kersosene) quota.

In view of the requests received from various state governments for increasing the allocation, the government commissioned the detailed study of Kerosene demand in the country, through the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in December 2004. The recommendations of NCAER have been received and it is under examiniation.

UNI