Mamata asks Centre not to cut Bengal's kerosene quota

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday requested the Centre to retain the state's kerosene allocation to the same level as the last financial year, after the quota was reduced by about 4,000 kl a month from April.

In a letter to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, she said the curtailment in kerosene allocation would cause grave distress to the consumers from remote villages and tribal areas, and adversely hit SC/ST, minority and the economically-weaker population.

"I would request you to kindly take urgent decision in this matter and maintain the allocation of 78,600 kl to the state at the level it existed in March 2016," the letter said.

The Centre had reduced state's kerosene allocation by 4,000 kl to 74,608 kl a month from this April.

Banerjee reminded the Centre that the state government cancelled 1.41 crore fake ration cards so as to provide the benefit to the targeted population.