Kolkata: On December 7, a demand for closer scrutiny of kerosene distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in West Bengal was raised following reports about the state’s disproportionately high kerosene consumption. According to BJP Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, based on statistics from the Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, West Bengal alone accounts for 66.38% of the country’s total kerosene consumption. Bhattacharya claims that much of the kerosene intended for PDS distribution is diverted to the black market, with some even being smuggled into neighboring Bangladesh.
BJP leader Amit Malviya also commented on the issue, questioning why, despite widespread LPG coverage in the state, nearly 67% of the nation’s kerosene is consumed in West Bengal. He speculated that poverty, black marketing, or the presence of illegal migrants who may be politically leveraged as vote banks for the ruling TMC could be contributing factors.
Under PDS guidelines, only valid cardholders are permitted to purchase kerosene, and there are limits to how much they can buy. The district administration and state Enforcement Branch are responsible for conducting regular checks to ensure that kerosene is being sold only to authorized individuals. However, there have been concerns about kerosene being mixed with petrol and diesel, which is then sold illicitly. In response, the Union government had issued a directive to the West Bengal government in June, urging action against the misuse of kerosene in the state.