5,676 kiloliters allocated; all cardholders to get ration kerosene again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All sections, including white card holders, will get kerosene from ration shops from next month. Kerosene is being made available to all sections after two years. The Union Petroleum Ministry was allocating 5676 kilolitres of kerosene at the request of the Kerala state government.

Presently, kerosene is being provided only to AAY (yellow) and PHH (pink) cardholders. These sections also do not get kerosene on time as most suppliers have withdrawn, citing the loss of money in supplying less quantity of kerosene. The current allocation in a quarter (three months) is 780 kilolitres.

14 states have given up the supply of kerosene and the central government had decided to gradually stop the supply of kerosene. Even the Civil Supplies Department did not expect that this much kerosene would be allocated in this situation.

Contractors should be brought back

Most of the contractors who supply kerosene to ration shops from oil companies have left the sector. As the quantity of kerosene had decreased, their income had also decreased. Efforts are being made to bring them back. They informed the government that the equipment used to measure kerosene, including tanks, have been ruined. Only those with licenses can purchase kerosene. Negotiations are underway with them. For transporting kerosene, contractors are currently paid Rs. 325 for the first 40 km. They want it to be increased to Rs. 400.

One card gets

A.A.Y..........................................................one liter

P.H.H ........................................................ half a liter

N.P.N.S...................................................... half a liter

N.P.S.......................................................... half a liter

For a house without electrification...............six liters

Total beneficiaries: 95,00,762 families

Price in ration shops: ₹63