Kerosine oil still elusive for common man
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 10 2013:
Even though district Deputy Commissioners have been tasked to oversee judicious distribution of kerosine oil the essential item continues to be beyond the reach of the common people.
Under the Government of Manipur's endeavour to ensure that the general public get their monthly quota of kerosine oil DCs were instructed to initiate relevant measures, including put an end to apparent illegal activity of siphoning off the public allocation by agents.
However, the Government procedure is yet to yield any significant positive result as the DCs themselves could not furnish utilisation certificates in time with regard to allocation of one of the public distribution system items for the months of October, November and December , 2012 .
According to an official source, a high level meeting on the said issue presided over by the Chief Minister was held on October 6 with Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Chief Secretary, Additional CS, top officials of IOC and CAF&PD and DCs also attending the meeting.
After hours of deliberation, the meeting decided to entrust DCs/ADC concerned the task of ensuring kerosine oil availability to the public.
On the same day kerosine allocation order for october, November and December months was also issued by the Government, said the source while detailing that for Imphal West district the allocation was 1224 kilolitres, 996 KL for Imphal East, 108 KL to ADC/Jiribam, Thoubal 1008 KL, Bishnupur 588 KL, Churachandpur 600 KL, Chandel 300 KL, Ukhrul 324 KL, Senapati 372 KL, ADC/Kangpokpi 480 KL and Tamenglong 228 KL.
The DCs/ADCs were further instructed to oversee allocation of kerosine oil to dealers/agents for further distribution to the public, but the Government move is yet to benefit the people as there is hardly any significant change in the quantity provided to the masses.
Contrary to prescribed norms that an individual ration card holder should get 5 litres every month, information received by the Sangai Express suggested that there is not only variation in kerosine provision by agents from one constituency to another but the quantity is less than 5 litres at the present juncture.
In some constituencies the monthly allocation is only 2 litres while in others it is 2.5 to 3 litres.
There are about 4,06,594 ration card holders who are entitled to kerosine oil provision.
Accepting that ration card holders are not getting their full quota, the source also revealed that consequent to failure of the DCs to furnish utilisation certificate for the allocations made last year, there might be delay in issuing allocation order for the coming months due to procedural impediment.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the Government order (15/1/2010-CAF&PD) of March 31, 2010 DCs concerned were cautioned that their monthly quota would not be released in case utilisation was not furnished in time.
meanwhile, an order issued today by Under Secretary (CAF&PD) has officially sanctioned district-wise allocation of the PDS item (K-oil) but actual release of the same would be processed only after the DCs produce utilisation certificate for the previous allocation.
It is also informed that with the exception of KD Agency, Tamenglong no other agents/DCs have submitted utilisation certificates till date.
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