Kerosene to be sold at ration shops to all card holders in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Amid the ongoing global energy crisis and rising concern over cooking fuel supplies, the state govt wants to ensure adequate supply of kerosene as alternate fuel at ration shops.Food, civil supplies and consumer protection minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday spoke in the legislative council about the use of kerosene as an alternative fuel during the shortage. He said the state currently has a sufficient stock of kerosene, and authorised dealers will be allowed to supply it in the market. To prevent adulteration and ensure transparency, there are plans to make kerosene available at fuel stations operated by the 3 oil companies, it is learnt.The plan is also expected to be extended across the state to ease pressure on households affected by the recent LPG crunch and rising fuel costs.A senior official said kerosene will be made available to all ration card holders, not just those below the poverty line. Officials said the state will receive an initial quota of 3,750 kilolitres of kerosene, which will be distributed through fair-price shops to ration card holders. The state will first have to identify wholesalers who will lift the kerosene from oil companies. "Distributing kerosene through fair-price shops was an old scheme which shut 7-8 years ago. We will have to begin the supply and then see what the demand is," said an official.Govt sources said there are around 1.6 crore ration card holders in the stateBhujbal said the Centre assured the state there are adequate stocks of LPG and PNG, and LPG production increased from 9,000 metric tonnes to 11,000 metric tonnes. He added while domestic LPG supply remains a priority, the govt is also ensuring essential sectors receive commercial LPG.He said there was "no need to panic" as the state remained in constant touch with the Centre and oil companies. He said every district is being monitored by the local collector and superintendent of police to prevent hoarding, diversion and black marketing.The minister also indicated citizens who were earlier excluded from kerosene access after being covered under the Ujjwala subsidy scheme may now be considered again, given the circumstances. The move comes at a time when households are also grappling with a rise in edible oil prices, such as in groundnut and palm oil, adding to the burden on kitchen expenses, he said.Bhujbal said enforcement teams intensified action against black marketing. So far, squads seized 1,208 cylinders from the black market, filed 23 cases and arrested 18 persons.In the Legislative Council, BJP MLC Parinay Phuke raised concerns over the sharp rise in LPG prices. He also pointed to a surge in demand for induction cooktops, alleging some sellers increased prices, and urged the state govt to act against profiteering.The issue of e-KYC also triggered panic, with many fearing cylinder supply would stop after April 1. Dealers clarified cylinders will not be denied to consumers, and e-KYC is required only to avail subsidy benefits in the new fiscal.