Kerosene pilferage: DMs told to file monthly report

In an endeavour to check pilferage of kerosene by fair price shop owners in UP, the state government has ordered all district magistrates (DMs) to provide consumption report of kerosene oil of their respective districts on a monthly basis.

They have also been directed to initiate appropriate measures to put effective check on misuse and black-marketing of the fuel by government-run ration shops in urban and rural areas of the state and also initiate strict action against those found guilty.

Under secretary, food and civil supplies, UP, Kuldeep Kumar Rastogi has issued orders to the DMs after getting poor response from them in providing details of consumption of the fuel and utilisation certificates for the first quarter (April to June) of 2017-18. Expressing concern over the laxity shown by DMs, Rastogi has directed them to provide details of kerosene oil consumed by legal beneficiaries including Antyodaya card holders at tehsil level on the set proforma by June 10, 2017. “This will help the state government know about the total consumption of kerosene oil in UP and put an effective check on its pilferage,” reads the order.

It is worth mentioning here that a large amount of kerosene oil is black-marketed by fair price shop owners by cheating beneficiaries. The practice is rampant in rural areas due to nexus between gram pradhans and fair price shop owners.

As a result, the beneficiaries often fail to get the fuel or are forced to purchase from open market on a higher price.

Presently, UP has more than 73,000 fair price shops spread across 18 divisions of state. DM Sanjay Kumar while confirming the move said that strict action would be taken against those fair price shop owners who are found guilty of black-marketing kerosene oil.

PRESENTLY, UTTAR PRADESH HAS MORE THAN 73,000 FAIR PRICE SHOPS SPREAD ACROSS 18 DIVISIONS OF STATE