Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested the Centre to release an additional 1000 kilolitres of subsidised kerosene for supply to Puri district, which was devastated by the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani on May 3.
In a letter to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Chief Minister said though restoration work is in progress on war-footing, bringing back power in the district will take some time due to extensive damage caused to the power infrastructure.
Stating that absence of electricity has led to a surge in the demand of subsidised kerosene by the people for lighting purposes, he requested the Union minister for supply of an additional quota of 1000 kilolitres of kerosene over and above the normal quota earmarked for the state.
“As a special case, this stock may be provided to wholesalers by the oil companies free of cost so that we can distribute it to the affected people without any charge. This quota will be lifted and distributed in the month of May,” the Chief Minister pointed out.
