Lok Sabha Question No. 3725 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Supply of Kerosene
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3725 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  MARCH, 2023

## Supply of Kerosene

## 3725. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

## पेोिलयम और ाकृितक गैस मंी

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

- (a) whether the Government has reduced the supply of kerosene to Kerala by forty per cent and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of kerosene supply under Public Distribution System to the State of Kerala since April 2022, month-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any survey studying the impact of such decision on the livelihood of over 20,000 fishermen who use kerosene as boat fuel and if so, the details of the key findings; and
- (d) whether the Union Government has received any formal request from the State Government of Kerala for reinstating the slashed kerosene quota and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेोिलयम और ाकृितक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामे वर तेली )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (d) Government of India makes allocation of PDS Kerosene to States/UTs including Kerala on quarterly  basis  for  cooking  and  lighting  purpose.  Taking  into  account  factors,  such  as increase in domestic LPG/ Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, electricity coverage, nonlifting  of  PDS  Kerosene  quota  by  the  concerned  States/UTs  etc.,  the  allocation  of  PDS Kerosene  to  States/UTs  have  been  rationalized  since  2010-11.  A  total  of  15552  KL subsidized PDS Kerosene has been allocated to the state of Kerala for FY 2022-23, out of which 15420 KL has been uplifted by Government of Kerala till February, 2023 of FY 202223. The quarterly allocation of subsidized PDS Kerosene to the State of Kerala for FY 202223 is annexed.

Government has not conducted any survey on the impact of reduction of Kerosene on the livelihood of fishermen who use Kerosene as boat fuel.

Government  vide  order  dated  21 st August,  2012  has  empowered  States/UTs  to  draw  an allocation  of  one  month's  quota  of  PDS  Kerosene  at  Non-  Subsidized  rates  during  each financial  year  for  special  needs  such  as  natural  calamities,  religious  functions,  fisheries, various yatras etc. Considering the request of Government of Kerala, in addition to already allocated quota of 2160 KL of Non-Subsidized PDS Kerosene, additional allocation of NonSubsidized  PDS  Kerosene  has  been  done  making  an  overall  allocation  of  7160  KL  NonSubsidized PDS Kerosene for year 2022-23. Government of Kerala has so far uplifted 5760 KL Non-Subsidized PDS Kerosene till February, 2023 for the 2022-23.

## Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha unstarred question no. 3725 asked by Dr. Shashi Tharoor to be answered on 23.03.2023 regarding Supply of Kerosene

| FY      | Quarter                      |   Allocation (KL) of subsidized PDS Kerosene to the State of Kerala |
|---------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2022-23 | Q1 (April- June, 2022)       |                                                                3888 |
| 2022-23 | Q2 (July- September, 2022)   |                                                                3888 |
| 2022-23 | Q3 (October- December, 2022) |                                                                3888 |
| 2022-23 | Q4 (January- March, 2023)    |                                                                3888 |