Amidst growing fears over LPG supply due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Central Government has taken a significant step to ensure fuel security. Reversing its 2022 decision to phase out Kerosene from the Public Distribution System (PDS) due to environmental concerns, the Centre has now granted temporary permission to distribute Kerosene through ration shops.

Following an appeal by the ‘All India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation’, the Petroleum Ministry approved the allocation. For West Bengal, 4,100 kilolitres of Kerosene have been sanctioned. According to Bishwambhar Basu, General Secretary of the Federation, the Ministry has mandated that this stock must be lifted within the next 45 days for distribution through PDS dealers.

While the dealer federation has welcomed this move, they are urging the government to make this a permanent measure, citing the skyrocketing prices of LPG which have made cooking gas unaffordable for many. As the nation braces for potential fuel disruptions, this pragmatic decision provides a necessary safety net for citizens, balancing the need for immediate energy relief with broader policy challenges.