(a) whether the consumption of diesel oil has remained declining over the last few years;
(b) whether the consumption of kerosene oil has been recording a steady growth in inverse proportion to diesel;
(c) whether the decline in the consumption of diesel is due to wide-spread adulteration with kerosene; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to prevent large scale adulteration of diesel ?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS AND PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) to (d) : While there was a decline in diesel consumption by 3.7% during the year 2001-02, it has grown by 0.3% and 1.8% during 2002-03 and 2003-04 respectively. In case of kerosene, consumption has declined by 7.7%, 0.3% and 1.9% during 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 respectively.
With a view to containing adulteration, a number of steps have been taken by the Government. These inter alia include canalizing kerosene imports through State Trading Enterprises, requesting State Government to increase sales tax rates on non-PDS kerosene, regular and surprise inspections by oil companies, amendments of Marketing Discipline Guidelines from time to time for making penal actions against the erring dealers more stringent, etc.