The issue of reduction in allotment of kerosene for Tamil Nadu in the last three years triggered a lively debate between Ministers and the DMK MLAs in the Assembly on Friday.
Participating in a debate on the demands for grants of Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department, E.V. Velu (DMK), former Food Minister , conceded that even when his party was in power (2006-2011), the quantity of allotment was reduced by the Union government twice and he, as the then Minister, had met Petroleum Minister Murli Deora for restoration.
Food Minister R. Kamaraj responded that the previous Union government, which had DMK as a constituent, had reduced the allotment on 10 occasions after the AIADMK government assumed office in the State in 2011. The existing allotment accounted for 45 per cent of the requirements of the State. Cooperation Minister K. Raju asked why the DMK did not insist on getting the balance quantity from the Centre.
Mr. Kamaraj told the House that during June 2011-June 2014, about 9.8 lakh new cards were issued and 2.85 lakh bogus cards were eliminated. As part of the government’s initiatives to control the rise in prices, farm fresh consumer outlets, as on July 2, sold about 37.14 lakh kg of vegetables for around Rs.10.31 crore.
The Civil Supplies-CID wing would implement CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Network and Systems) to curb the activities of smugglers of essential commodities. Also, vehicles, transporting essential commodities for the PDS in the districts having inter-State borders, would be fitted with GPS, he added.
