Lok Sabha Question No. 952 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Supply of Kerosene at Subsidised Rate
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 952 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 February, 2024

## Supply of Kerosene at Subsidised Rate

## 952. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  consider  fishermen's  plea  to  resume  the  supply  of kerosene at subsidised rate and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the non-subsidised kerosene supplied through Public Distribution  System (PDS) is insufficient  to  meet  the demand of fishermen who use outboard motor boats and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government is ready to increase the allocation of non-subsidised kerosene to the States like West Bengal and Maharashtra for fishing purpose and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी ( ŵी रामे̻  वर तेली )

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

(a)  to  (c):  Government  makes  allocation  of  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  Kerosene  for cooking  and  lighting  purpose  only.  Government  vide  order  dated  21st August  2012,  has empowered States/ UTs to draw an allocation of one month's quota of PDS Kerosene at NonSubsidized rates during each financial year for special needs such as natural calamities, religious functions, fisheries, various yatras etc. The allocation of SKO under PDS has been rationalized considering  the  polluting  nature  of  Kerosene.  Annual  allocation  of  Non-subsidized  PDS Kerosene  is  done  by  Petroleum  Planning  &  Analysis  Cell  (PPAC)  in  the  beginning  of  each financial  year.  States/UTs  may  seek  further  additional  allocation  after exhausting  available quota. Further, distribution plan of non-subsidized PDS Kerosene is decided and controlled by respective State/UT.

Effective 1 st March, 2020, the retail selling price of PDS Kerosene is being maintained at NIL under-recovery level on pan India basis.

No  requests  have  been  received  so  far  from  the  State  of  West  Bengal  and  Maharashtra  to increase the allocation of non-subsidised PDS SKO for fishing purposes for the year 2023-24. However, whenever such requests are received, same are processed after considering the factors as mentioned above.

The annual allocation and lapsed quantity of Non-subsidized PDS Kerosene to the State of West Bengal and Maharashtra for the year 2022-23 is as under:

(Figures in KL)

| Year    | State       | Non Subsidized PDS Kerosene   | Non Subsidized PDS Kerosene   |
|---------|-------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|         |             | Allocation                    | Lapsed Quantity               |
| 2022-23 | Maharashtra | 2328                          | 2328                          |
|         | West Bengal | 58668                         | 58668                         |

Source: Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC)

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