Balasore: While on one hand genuine beneficiaries are being deprived of their rightful monthly quota of subsidised kerosene in several parts of the state due to various reasons, the much sought-after commodity is allegedly making its way to the black market in Balasore district thanks to a lethargic civil supplies department, say locals.
The arrest of a smuggler along with seizure of 2,000 litres of kerosene at Mandarpur panchayat on Republic Day is evidence of a well-oiled racket functioning here, say observers.
The arrested person was selling kerosene claiming it to be diesel by mixing adulterants in it, according to police.
Now, locals are clamouring to know how the accused could procure such a huge quantity of kerosene, alleging that this is points to the apathy and indifference of the civil supplies officials who are failing to act against the kerosene black marketers.
According to reports, subsidised kerosene is black-marketed in almost all blocks including Remuna area.
Sources added some unscrupulous civil supplies officials and retailers have been running a well-oiled racket in landing thousands of litres of subsidized kerosene in the black market.
The demand of kerosene is high because many vehicles, tractors, power tillers and generators run on kerosene instead of diesel. The black-marketers are raking in the money from such illegal trade while beneficiaries remain deprived of their quota or get reduced share.
Surprisingly, district civil supplies officer Jayprakashmani Patra said there have been no reports about the seizure of subsidized kerosene. “Investigation will be carried out if we are intimated about the mater,” he said. Police registered a case in connection with the seizure.
Remuna IIC Parsuram Sahu said a criminal case was registered against accused Bimbadhar Giri and the civil supplies department has been intimated about it. The IIC however said that a civil supplies officer has also investigated the matter, contradicting the claims of the district civil supplies official. PNN
