LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2017

ALLOCATION/SUPPLY OF KEROSENE

*106. DR. SHASHI THAROOR :

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of proposed revision in quantum of PDS kerosene being supplied to the

State of Kerala along with its likely impact on the coastal fishermen in the State;

(b) whether the revised supply/ allocation of PDS kerosene has been made to Kerala

beyond the third quarter of 2016- 2017 which was 71,436 kilolitres and if so, the details

thereof;

(c) whether the States are allowed to draw one month quota of kerosene at nonsubsidised

rates during each financial year for their special needs and if so, the details

thereof;

(d) whether such provision is adequate to meet the rising demands of fisher folk who

use kerosene for their fishing vessels and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction

of the Government thereto; and

(e) whether the Government is likely to revise the current allocation of PDS kerosene to

the state of Kerala to meet the demands of the fishermen and if so, the details thereof

along with other steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM &

NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK

SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106 ASKED BY DR. SHASHI THAROOR FOR

ANSWER ON 24.07.2017 REGARDING ALLOCATION/SUPPLY OF KEROSENE.

(a) & (b) : As per Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling

Price) Order, 1993, the Government of India (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)

makes allocation of Public Distribution System (PDS) Kerosene for cooking and

lighting only on quarterly basis. Further distribution of PDS Kerosene within the

States/UTs under PDS network to various categories of ration card

holders/consumers is the responsibility of the concerned States/UTs. Scale and

criteria of distribution are also decided by respective State/UT.

As per the data, LPG Coverage in Kerala as on 01.07.2017 was

101.6%. Similarly, as per Census 2011, electricity coverage was 94.4% against

national average of 67.3%. Thus, only 5.2% of the total households use SKO for

lighting purpose against national average of 31.4%. This number may have come

down since 2011.

Taking into account the above mentioned factors and based on the

recommendation of inter-ministerial committee (IMC), the PDS SKO allocation to the

States/UTs including Kerala has been rationalized for 2016-17 and 2017-18 (up to 2nd

quarter). Detail of quarterly allocation of PDS Kerosene made to the State of Kerala

during 2016-17 and 2017-18 (up to September, 2017) is given below :

Year – 2016-17 : Allocation (in KL)

 Ist Quarter (April - June) 27960

 2nd Quarter (July - September) 26568

 3

rd

 Quarter (October - December) 16908

 4th Quarter (January – March) 16908

Year – 2017-18 :

 Ist Quarter (April - June) 15456

 2nd Quarter (July - September) 15456

(c) and (d) : Ministry of Petroleum and Natural has issued Order dated 21st August,

2012 whereby each State/UT including Kerala can draw an allocation of one month’s

quota of Kerosene at non-subsidized rates (inclusive of excise / custom duty / taxes

and excluding under-recovery/fiscal subsidy) during each Financial Year, for their

special needs. States/UTs may seek further additional allocation of non-subsidized

Kerosene from this Ministry after exhausting this one month’s quota.

(e) : Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas makes quarterly allocation of PDS

Kerosene for cooking and lighting only. While deciding the allocation of PDS

Kerosene of the States/UTs, the factors such as increase in domestic LPG/PNG

connections, increase in electricity coverage, Non-lifting of PDS Kerosene quota by

the concerned States/UTs etc. are taken into account.

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