Bihar CM asks Centre to increase kerosene quota by 34 per cent

Patna, Jun 16 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today demanded that the Centre continue to provide subsidised kerosene to people in the state as before.

In a letter to Petroleum minister Murli Deora, Mr Kumar said majority of people belonging to both Above Poverty Line and Below Poverty Line categories use kerosene oil as the supply of electricity and cooking gas in the state were 'far from being satisfactory'.

Urging the Centre to increase the allotment of kerosene to Bihar by at least 34 per cent, the Chief Minister said the present annual quota of 53,953 tonnes was ''totally insufficient''.

Earlier, Mr Deora had informed Mr Kumar about the Centre's decision to provide subsidised kerosene only to the people of BPL.

'' As per the recommendation of the Dr Rangarajan Committee,the government had decided to stop providing kerosene oil at cheaper rate to the people belonging to APL,'' Mr Deora informed Mr Kumar further.

Incidentally, the Centre had constituted the committee under the Chairmanship of Dr Rangarajan,Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister to examine different aspects of pricing and taxation of petroleum products,keeping in view the finacial position of oil companies.

UNI