PILOT PROJECT FOR
KEROSENE DISTRIBUTION
New Delhi, 6 February 2006
New Delhi, February 7 (INFA): The Union
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has introduced an innovative pilot
project for distribution of Kerosene oil through the public distribution system
(PDS).
The project is aimed at revamping the distribution network
of Kerosene, the heavily subsidized product.
The exercise would ensure that it is actually made available to the
intended beneficiaries.
Effort will also be made to stop the practice of diversion
of Kerosene for adulteration purposes.
Presently, the project is being implemented on pilot basis
for six months in 412 blocks, covering as many as 235 States and one Union Territory.
Thereafter the working of the Scheme would be assessed and
based on the experience gained. The
Government will consider scaling the scheme to cover the entire country. The estimated expenditure on the scheme is
Rs.696 crore.
The principal features of the scheme are: Public Sector Oil
Marketing Companies (OMCs) will establish at least one Kerosene (SKO)
dealership in each of the country’s development blocks. In consultation with the district
administration and the wholesale dealer, about 5-10 sub-wholesale points will
be located in each block.
There will be dedicated fleet of tanker-trucks (TTs) for
transportation of PDS kerosene to ensure widespread public information and
transparency as these TTs will prominently display the special logo that is
being devised for the dedicated fleet.
To bring storage dispensing services at SKO dealerships at
par with the modern facilities provided at petrol and diesel outlets by OMCs at
their own expense, the Ministry’s Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) will
fund OMCs to ensure the installation of the following facilities at each of the
dealership covered under the pilot project: (a) storage tanks with a minimum
capacity of 20 KLs; (b) calibrated dispensing pumps; (c) adequate number of
barrels, appropriately decorated with the special logo, for the delivery of SKO
to sub-wholesale points; and (d) one or more barrel shed.
Supplies from the depots of the OMCs to the wholesale
storages and further up to sub-wholesale points will be made under the direct
supervision and responsibility of the OMCs.
Similar logos will be displayed on vehicles transporting PDS
to SKO from wholesale to sub-wholesale points and from there to retail points
at Fair Price Shops.
In consultation with State Governments, Panchayats and Gram
Sabhas will be empowered to generally supervise the availability of PDS SKO at
subsidized prices, and a reporting mechanism will be put in place for
Panchayats / Gram Sabhas to report any deficiencies to the State administration
and OMCs concerned.---INFA
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