The Hindu : National : PDS kerosene only to BPL families: Deora

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006

National

National

PDS kerosene only to BPL families: Deora

Special Correspondent

Steps being taken to prevent adulteration

NEW DELHI: The Government has approved "in principle" the proposal to restrict sale of kerosene through the public distribution system to families below the poverty line.

Disclosing this on Tuesday, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said steps were also being taken to prevent adulteration of petroleum products. They included mandating third party certification for all retail outlets and implementing marking of kerosene by October.

At a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee attached to his Ministry in Mumbai on Monday, Mr. Deora said the Rangarajan committee's proposal on pricing and taxation of petroleum products to restrict the sale of subsidised kerosene to below poverty line families had been approved. It was one of the measures suggested by the committee to make subsidies more effective in the oil sector as well as to prevent adulteration.

He told members that checking adulteration was a top priority for the Ministry. The Oil Marking Companies (OMCs) were directed to carry out marking of kerosene with the help of standard marker with effect from October to prevent the widespread use of kerosene for adulteration of diesel. The OMCs were also asked to place Global Positioning System on tankers by March next. They were directed to carry out third party certification of Retail Outlets selling over 100 kilolitres by 2007.

Mr. Deora said the Assam Government had decided to reduce sales tax on petrol and diesel.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National