Centre Has Cut 50% Kerosene Quota to Odisha in Last 8 years: Minister

Bhubaneswar: State Food Supplies Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain once again targeted the Centre stating that the kerosene quota allotted to Odisha has been slashed by around 50 per cent in the last eight years.

Raising the issue in the State Assembly today, Swain informed the House that families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) will now get two litres of kerosene instead of 2.5 litres that they used to get earlier.

"In 2011-12, 4.9 lakh kilolitres of kerosene was allotted to the State but it has been decreased to 2.9 lakh kilolitres in 2019-20. Till July 2019, the Centre used to allot 20.7 thousand kilolitres of kerosene per month, but now, Odisha will get only 16.38 thousand kilolitres," said Swain.

He further said that the distribution of kerosene to the beneficiaries will be carried out through the e-Point of sale (e-PoS) device at the designated fair price shops.

Reacting to the the minister’s statement, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik said that the slash in kerosene quota is necessary citing that if Centre makes available excess kerosene, there's every chance of black marketing.

"Who is taking away the kerosene meant for people in Bhubaneswar? There's a need to reassess the kerosene quota. The State Government should first check how much kerosene a beneficiary requires and submit a list accordingly," said Naik.