Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government today urged the Centre to instruct the Finance Ministry to reconsider its decision to scrap supply of subsidised kerosene through the public distribution system and to restore monthly allocation of the fuel to the state.
Referring to media reports that the Finance Ministry has taken a decision to scrap the supply of subsidised kerosene through the public distribution system, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said such a decision would create hardships to the state.
"If the Government of India is actually contemplating such a harsh and punitive measure, it would impose considerable hardship on the people of a state like Tamil Nadu", he said.
Recalling the memorandum submitted to Mr Modi by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seeking to increase the monthly allocation of kerosene to Tamil Nadu to its full requirement of 65,140 kilolitres per month, Mr Panneerselvam said "presently the allotment of PDS kerosene to Tamil Nadu, after 10 successive reductions from the level of 59,780 kilo litres prevalent in March 2010 stands at 29,056 kilo litres".
In many parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly in rural areas, most households use kerosene as the main cooking fuel", he said.
Noting that most households which have LPG connections even in urban areas have only single cylinder connection and kerosene is the only supplementary fuel, Mr Panneerselvam said.
He said Tamil Nadu strongly opposed monetizing and transferring in cash the subsidy element of PDS articles, including kerosene, as the concern is not the quantum of subsidy but the availability of commodities.
"I strongly urge you to instruct the Ministry of Finance to reconsider any such proposal to scrap the supply of subsidised kerosene through the PDS and also to transfer the subsidy element by cash or other alternatives", he said.
He requested Mr Modi to restore Tamil Nadu's monthly kerosene allocation to its full requirement of 65,140 Kilo litres per month in order to ensure the poor and the middle classes are saved from "unnecessary hardships".
Referring to media reports that the Finance Ministry has taken a decision to scrap the supply of subsidised kerosene through the public distribution system, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said such a decision would create hardships to the state.
"If the Government of India is actually contemplating such a harsh and punitive measure, it would impose considerable hardship on the people of a state like Tamil Nadu", he said.
<divid='ndtvrelcontent'></div>
In many parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly in rural areas, most households use kerosene as the main cooking fuel", he said.
Advertisement
He said Tamil Nadu strongly opposed monetizing and transferring in cash the subsidy element of PDS articles, including kerosene, as the concern is not the quantum of subsidy but the availability of commodities.
Advertisement
He requested Mr Modi to restore Tamil Nadu's monthly kerosene allocation to its full requirement of 65,140 Kilo litres per month in order to ensure the poor and the middle classes are saved from "unnecessary hardships".
COMMENTS
Advertisement
BJP Accuses Congress Of Inciting Violence Against PM Modi With 'Maut' And 'Hinsa' Remarks At 100 Million, PM Modi Is Most-Followed World Leader On X Today "Web Of Lies": M Kharge Counters PM's '8 Crore Jobs In 4 Years' Remark Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94: Publicist Israeli Strike Kills Field Commander In Elite Hezbollah Unit: Report Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.