From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, Apr 28: With the Centre cutting down Karnataka’s monthly allotment of 49,396 kilo-litres of Kerosene for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) to 46,900 KL, a reductionof 2,496 KL per month, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has urged the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora to enhance the allocation.
Shooting off a letter to Deora and releasing copies to the media as part of an obvious strategy to build public pressure on the Centre and also embarrass the state Congress leaders presently engaged in campaigning for the grama panchayat polls, Yeddyurappa said the substantial reduction of 2,496 KL from the existing quota would seriously affect the poorer sections, especially in rural areas.
In an attempt to create more problems for the opposition Congress party, which still remains a major rival to the ruling BJP in rural Karnataka, the chief minister pointed out that the state government was in the forefront of reforms in PDS and is ensuring that kerosene is made available to the needy consumers.
The State has embarked on a comprehensive computerisation project including bio-metrics and digital photography for the ration card holders. Karnataka had also strictly followed the policy of not distributing subsidised kerosene to even a single LPG consumer since 2001, he said.
Pointing out that the state was deficit in power necessitiating greater availability of kerosene in rural areas for cooking and even lighting purposes, he said the rural population dependent on kerosene will be put to great hardships.
The rural population requiring kerosene for their daily usage was about 71 % of the total population and the kerosene being given was barely 3 litres per family, he said.
"I request your kind intervention in restoring the kerosene allocation for the State to 49,396 KL per month with immediate effect to overcome the hardship of summer and so as to ensure that the rural masses are not deprived of their kerosene,’’ Yeddyurappa said in his letter while making a strong pitch for a larger allocation to the state.