Jayalalithaa seeks higher allocation of kerosene

Says Centre's allocation of kerosene to the state is unjust and arbitrary

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday stated that the Centre's allocation of kerosene to the state was "unjust and arbitrary." The Centre has allocated around 55 per cent against the actual requirement.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, chief minister J Jayalalithaa said the state had protested thrice against earlier reductions in the monthly allotment and requested to allot 65,140 kl per month, which is the actual requirement of the state.

"Even while all these requests were pending examination in the Government of India, as acknowledged by your own office, it is extremely distressing to find that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has persisted in repeatedly reducing the allotment of kerosene to Tamil Nadu," she stated.

The allotment has been reduced from 52,806 kl per month fixed for April-June, 2011, to 44,576 KL in the January-March 2012, quarter. This was further reduced to 42,460 kl in the April-June 2012 quarter and to 39,429 kl in the July-September 2012 quarter.