BJD member Narendra Kumar Swain inquired in the Rajya Sabha recently through a question to know from the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister if the Union Government is aware that there are no outlets or channels for dispensing non-PDS Superior Kerosene (SK) oil in the country today.
Swain also wanted to know what action is being taken by the Government of India to create alternative channels; if it is not already there. He further wanted to ascertain whether the Government is considering for appointment of 108 new SK oil (PDS) wholesalers of the oil in Odisha.
In this connection it is pertinent to mention here that Government of India has been moved vide the department letter No 8047, dated 10.05.2010 of Food, Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS and CW) Department of Government of Odisha to enhance the number of existing wholesalers to 314 on a principle that there should be a wholesaler for each block in the State.
Besides, the Union Minister has also been requested to appoint wholesalers in place of disengaged wholesalers of SK oil as per provision of clause – 5 of OPDS (Control) Order, 2008. As per the discussion of Minister, FS and CW, Odisha with the Union Minister, Petroleum and Natural Gas, 108 wholesalers are required to be appointed in Odisha to cater to the demand of the consumers in the State.
A request of Government of Odisha in this regard is pending with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on enhancement of monthly quota of PDS SK oil to 40,000 Kl per month.
Swain’s question was expected to be answered by the Union Petroleum Minister in the Rajya Sabha on February 8, 2017 but intriguingly enough the Minister drew a blank leaving the BJD MPs raising their eyebrows over the Ministers non-reply to Swain’s question on a sensitive issue involving the larger interest of the State.