Question : Allocation of Kerosene

(a) whether the Government has released the quota of kerosene for forthcoming quarter to Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with norms/policy being followed for allotment of kerosene oil to the States;
(b) whether the State Governments have requested for increasing the Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) and if so, the details thereof along with per capita Public Distribution System (PDS) SKO allocation and consumption in the country during the last three years and the current year along with the reasons for variation in per capita allocation of PDS Kerosene among various States/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
(c) whether the Government provides/proposes to provide Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) to hostels/schools and hospitals located in the areas where electricity is not sufficiently available or the quality and frequency of power supply is very poor in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the quantum of SKO supplied/provided to such institutions during each of the said period, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) : The quota of PDS Kerosene has already been allocated to States/UTs including Rajasthan up to 3rd quarter of 2016-17. The allocation of PDS Kerosene made to the State of Rajasthan for 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2016-17 are 1,17,612 KL, 1,11,732 KL and 71,028 KL respectively.
(b) : In view of the requests of various State Governments including Uttar Pradesh, for increasing/restoration of the Kerosene quota, the Government has allowed the States/UTs to draw one month of quota of PDS Kerosene at non-
subsidized rates during each financial year w.e.f. 2012-13 for special needs.
The scale of distribution of PDS Kerosene allocation to various categories of ration card holders/beneficiaries under PDS is in the domain of State Governments. However, State-wise details of the per capita allocation (calculated by dividing State Kerosene allocation by population of the State) and consumption of kerosene in the country during each of the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively. The variation in the per capita allocation is on account of historical allocation, difference in LPG coverage etc.
(c) & (d) : The Government of India allocates PDS Kerosene to States/UTs on quarterly basis for distribution under PDS for cooking and illumination only. Further distribution with the States/UTs through their PDS network to various categories of consumers as per their respective criteria, is the responsibility of the concerned States/UTs. In addition, the Government has allowed 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 the Government of India after exhausting this one month’s quota.
In addition to above, with a view to ease the availability of Kerosene, the Central Government has amended the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993 allowing sale of Kerosene at commercial rate in the open market. It is expected that this will reduce demand for diverted PDS Kerosene by improving availability of non-PDS Kerosene in the open market and will thus meet the demand of Kerosene for various legitimate end uses for the industry and for individual consumption by those who can afford it at market price.
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