The Odisha Government and the Centre are again at loggerheads over the kerosene quota to the State with accusations flying thick and fast.
Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma on Sunday said the Union Government has slashed the kerosene quota by 40 per cent. It must restore the quota soon for the welfare of beneficiaries.
However, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said the per-head kerosene quota allotted to the State is 24 litre. It includes Governor MC Jamir and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Pradhan said the Odisha Government should stop the rampant pilferage of the fuel in the State. He further said 2.4 lakh kilolitre of kerosene has been allotted to the State.
Reacting to the Union Minister’s statement, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said the kerosene quota is being cut to the State, under the pretext that 40 per cent of the people are having electricity and lPG connections. But the lPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme are being distributed on the basis of party affiliations, he alleged.
However, a BJP spokesperson said let the State Government first submit the list of 60 per cent beneficiaries, to whom it has distributed the kerosene.