(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the Oil Marketing Companies to sell mini LPG cylinders through ration/fair price shops in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this has been implemented in a pilot mode in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND TEXTILES
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.43 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 01.12.2021 IN THE LOK SABHA.
(a) to (b): As per the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Control Order 2015, the licenses to the Fair Price Shop (FPS) owners shall be issued by the respective State Governments keeping in view the viability of the FPSs. Further, the State/UT Governments are empowered to allow sale of commodities other than the foodgrains distributed under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) at the FPS to improve the viability of fair price operations.
2. As part of efforts to help improve the financial viability of FPSs, Department of Food & Public Distribution has explored different avenues with other Ministries/Departments of Government of India and States/UTs.
3. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has supported the initiative regarding sale of mini LPG cylinders at FPSs. Subsequently as per the advice of MoPNG, this Department convened a meeting with MoPNG, State/UT Governments and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and it has been agreed that the OMCs will provide all necessary support for selling mini LPG Cylinders through ration/FPSs to interested State/UT governments.
(c) to (d): No Sir, allowing the sale of other essential commodities at FPSs is within the powers of State/UT Governments. Accordingly, the States of Maharashtra, Goa and Rajasthan have already allowed the FPSs to sell Mini LPG cylinders. However, Department of Food and Public Distribution has further provided a common meeting ground to States/UTs and the Oil Marketing Companies to take the initiative of sale of Mini LPG Cylinders at FPS, forward.
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