Kerala: Kerosene distribution hit hard

Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of kerosene through the public distribution system has been disrupted in the state following the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the confusion over the tax rate. All-India Ration Dealers Association general secretary Babychen Mukkadan told Deccan Chronicle that  civil supplies director V. Ratheesan had directed the ration shops to stop the supply of kerosene. Mr Mukkadan said that kerosene quota was being supplied to the state by the centre once in three months. Hence, the quota for the months of July, August and September had arrived before July 1.

Moreover, there was no change in the GST for kerosene supplied through the public distribution system. The tax rate remained at five percent as before the introduction of the GST, Mr Mukkadan said. Hence, the price of kerosene to be distributed through the PDS,  including wages, commission and adjustment,  would have come to Rs 22-- the same as that before the introduction of the GST, he  said.

However, the civil supplies department decided to stop the distribution of kerosene as it has  not yet received any directions from the government about the price. There was no disruption of other ration items like rice and wheat, he  said. Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman has said that there would be no disruption in the distribution of kerosene through public distribution system following the introduction of GST. Government has asked the civil supplies department to distribute kerosene in the price before the introduction of GST, he said.