The PDS system in the district has been seriously jeopardized due to diversion of subsidised kerosene oil to local industries by the distributors that fetches them huge profit margin. Kerosene which is sold at Rs 14.29 per liter through PDS is being sold in open market at Rs 40 per liter in different parts of the district by such unscrupulous businessmen through vendors.
According to Civil Supply officials, 432 PDS dealers operate in three municipalities and five blocks of the district covering 1, 51,933 APl, BPl, AAY and PlO ration cards. Till June 2014, the PDS was running with one whole seller and seven sub-whole sellers to supply kerosene oil to 432 dealers. But from July onwards only two sub-whole sellers operate in the district to cater to the needs. The Government allots 4, 80,000 liters of kerosene oil per month to the district.
It is alleged that PDS dealers and one sub-whole seller used to sell PDS kerosene oil in different parts of the district illegally at a rate varying from Rs 38 to Rs 40 per liter to different industries through some agents.
The connivance surfaced when the police seized 10 drums carrying 1,785 liters of PDS kerosene near Hotel Milan Chowk under Belpahar Police Station on Friday evening and arrested Brahmanand Verma and Sujit Singh. A senior official of an integrated steel plant on condition of anonymity said that the PDS kerosene was being sold to the different industries of the district at a higher cost.
When contacted the Jharsuguda Civil Supply Officer (CSO) told that there was a special squad to prevent black-marketing of kerosene. There is, however, no information regarding supply of kerosene to the industries, he clarified.