Question : ALLOCATION OF PDS KEROSENE

(a) the per capita allocation and consumption of Kerosene in the country during each of the last three years and the current year along with the reasons for variation in per capita allocation of PDS Kerosene among various States/UTs including Gujarat and Chhattisgarh;

(b) whether the State Governments have requested for increasing the Superior Kerosene Oil allocation in the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the quantum of kerosene supplied by the Union Government to the States during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the reduction in PDS kerosene has caused difficulties for weaker sections of the Antyodya Anna Yojana/Below Poverty Line beneficiaries in the States including Gujarat and Chhattisgarh; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and steps taken by the Government in this regard, State-wise?

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

(a) State/UT-wise detail of per capita allocation and consumption/upliftment of PDS Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) during the last three years and the current year is annexed as Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.

The variation in per capita allocation is on account of historical allocation, difference in LPG coverage, logistic constraints etc. The scale of SKO distribution is determined by State Governments.

(b) & (c): The Government has not reduced PDS SKO allocation to States/Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2014-15 (upto 3rd quarter). PDS SKO allocation has been maintained on the same scale as the corresponding period for the year 2013-14. While the requests of various State Governments for enhancement of their SKO Quota have not been acceded to, the Government has, however, taken a considered decision to allow the States/UTs to draw one month quota of PDS SKO at non-subsidized rates during each financial year w.e.f. 2012-13 for special needs. State/UT-wise detail of PDS SKO allocation during the last three years and the current year (upto 3rd Quarter) is annexed as Annexure-III

(d) & (e) The Government allocates PDS SKO to States/UTs including the State of Gujarat and Chhattisgarh 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 as per their respective criteria, is the responsibility of the concerned States/UTs. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have reported that there is no shortage reported from any part of the country including the State of Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

The National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in its report of October, 2005 estimated the leakage of PDS SKO to be 38.6% of the total sale of PDS SKO. Further, Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) has recently estimated the diversion to be of the order of 50.8%.