Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: PDS Kerosene to BPL Category
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: M. K. RAGHAVAN

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO. 290**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 10** **th** **AUGUST,  2015**

**PDS KEROSENE TO BPL CATEGORY**

*** 290.	SHRI M.K.RAGHAVAN:**

पैट्रोलियम और प्राकृतिक गैस मंत्री

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

1. whether the various States including Kerala have requested for allotment of kerosene under PDS category for use in fishing sector in the State, and if so, the details thereof;

1. whether the majority of the fishermen in the States are under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and purchase kerosene from open market; and

(c) 	if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to provide kerosene under PDS to fishermen for fuelling engines fitted on their fishing boats?

**पैट्रोलियम और प्राकृतिक गैस मंत्रालय में राज्‍य मंत्री ( स्‍वतंत्र प्रभार)  (श्री धर्मेन्‍द्र प्रधान)**

**MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)**

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

**STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.290 ASKED BY SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN FOR ANSWER ON 10.08.2015 REGARDING PDS KEROSENE TO BPL CATEGORY.**

(a) to (c):	State Government of Kerala has requested to allow the State to continue to permit the use of PDS Kerosene by the fishermen and poor rural folk and to sustain the allocation without imposing any cut based on the use of Kerosene for these purposes.

The quota of PDS Kerosene was  rationalized from 2010-11 onwards based on various factors such as increase in domestic LPG/ PNG connections, non-lifting of the PDS Kerosene quota by the concerned State/UT in earlier years and cap on the Per Capita PDS Kerosene allocation for non LPG/PNG population.  PDS Kerosene allocation for the year 2015-16 has been rationalized on similar parameters but with additional criterion of a mandatory cut of 2% and a maximum cut of 10%.   Accordingly, PDS kerosene  quota of Kerala for the year 2015-16 has been reduced by 2% as compared to the allocation of 2014-15. So far factors like diversion of PDS Kerosene for fisheries sector by the respective States/UTs are concerned, they have not been taken into account for reduction in PDS Kerosene allocations to all States including Kerala.

Government of India allocates PDS Kerosene to States / Union Territories (UTs) including the State of Kerala on quarterly basis for distribution under PDS for cooking and illumination only.  Further distribution within the States/UTs through their PDS network to ration card holders including BPL category as per their respective criteria is the responsibility of concerned States/UTs.

The Government has taken a considered decision to allow the States/UTs to draw one month quota of Kerosene at non-subsidized rates during each financial year w.e.f. 2012-13 for special needs such as natural calamities, religious functions, fisheries, various ‘yatras’, ‘melas’ etc.   States/UTs can also seek further additional allocation of non-subsidized SKO from this Ministry after exhausting this one month’s quota.

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