Centre to stop supply of ration kerosene

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government is planning to stop the supply of ration kerosene completely by next year. The amount of kerosene sanctioned last financial year was 3888 kiloliters (38.88 lakh litres), and this year it has been cut down to 1944 kiloliters (19.44 lakh litres). The Union Ministry of Petroleum has informed the public distribution departments of the states including Kerala about this. As part of the central policy to reduce the use of kerosene, the allocation has been reduced for several years. Reducing the kerosene of the fishermen will be a setback for the fishing sector as well.

Along with reducing the share, the price has also been increasing. In the last financial year, the allocation was reduced by 40 percent and the price was increased by Rs 28 to reach Rs 81 per litre. The state government is also reducing the ration allocation along with the center. From April 2021, the supply has been reduced to one liter for yellow and pink cards, half a liter for blue and white cards, and eight liters for those with unelectrified houses, and distribution was reduced to once every three months. From last April, it has been reduced to six liters for those with unelectrified houses and half a liter for all other cards every three months. Kerosene for blue and white cards has been completely stopped from this month.

Share going down (kiloliter).

2019-20--------12,043

2020-21--------- 9264

2021-22----------6840

2022-23----------3888

2023-24----------1944

Price going up

May 2020..................... 19 Rs

November 2020..........25 Rs

February 2021............. 47 Rs

November 2021............53 Rs

April 2022.......................81 Rs

Fisheries without an alternative

As the non-PDS share of the fisheries sector has been reduced from 2160 kg liters (21.60 lakh litres) to 1296 kg liters (12.96 lakh litres), most fishermen will have to procure kerosene from outside. For ration kerosene, a subsidy of Rs.25 was received. In the general market, the price is Rs.102.

Last year, kerosene was provided to more than 14,000 outboard engines for three months as per the permit but the full share was not given. Although the cuts have already begun, the fisheries sector has no alternative plans.