Even as the ruling BJD had hit streets and created a huge uproar in 2017 over a cut in kerosene quota for the State by the Union Petroleum Ministry, the shocker two years down the line is Odisha failed to lift-off the allocated PDS Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) quota that led to lapse of a high of nearly 6000 kilolitre (KL).
The lapse of the SKO quota directly pinches the poor households. Reports suggest many BPL cardholders, who are eligible for PDS kerosene, didn’t get their monthly quota as the Fair Price Shop dealers haven’t received the required SKO supply.
As per the data available with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Odisha failed to lift off the allocated 63, 112 KL of SKO during the quarter of April – June 2019. The result is it saw lapse of a huge 5,990KL of PDS kerosene during the 1st quarter of 2019-20.  The State could lift only 57,122KL during the quarter.
In this backdrop, the Petroleum Ministry has written a letter to the Secretary of Odisha Food and Civil Supplies department last month regarding lapse of 5,990 KL kerosene in the first quarter. Urging the State to ensure complete lift-off of the total allocation, the missive has informed the State about the second quarter SKO quota that has been fixed at 49,152KL.
While allocating SKO for distribution under PDS, Centre asks the State to see the entire allocation made for a month should be lifted within the month itself and carry forward of unlifted quantity would not be allowed.