PANAJI: The government will probe into the allegations of black marketing of kerosene, which is supplied to the kerosene vendors around the state for sale to the public.

The Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza on Monday assured the House that he would carry out an inquiry into these allegations made by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. “I will investigate the whole matter and take appropriate decision,” he added.
Earlier, the Mandrem MLA, Mr Laxmikant Parsenkar pointing out that altogether 315 kerosene vendors have been given licenses in Salcete  taluka as compared to 34 in Bardez, 8 in Pernem, 7 in Sanguem and 4 each in Sattari and Canacona, questioned the clients of these vendors. He also stated that more than 50 per cent of these kerosene vendors were non-Goans.
When the Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs pointed out that these 315 kerosene vendors were providing kerosene to the floating population around Goa, Mr Parsenkar questioned as to whether 45 per cent of the floating population of Goa was residing in Salcete taluka.
Pointing out that there are altogether 3.85 lakh ration card holders in Goa and each one of them was entitled for 5 litres of kerosene, the Mandrem MLA alleged that the kerosene is being sold in black market to be added to fuels like petrol and diesel.
The leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar stated that each one of the kerosene vendor received a monthly quota of 180 litres of kerosene, which means the 715 kerosene vendors in Goa receive a monthly quota of 1.28 lakh kerosene. He also alleged that an amount of Rs 25.60 lakh is generated by the sale of kerosene in black market on monthly bases, which makes it over Rs 30 crore, annually. The Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs informed that his department carried out a re-survey of the kerosene vendors and based on the same, cancelled licenses of 27 kerosene vendors, while another 30 are under investigation process.
The leader of the opposition pointed out that the profit margin given to each kerosene vendor is 60 paise per litre, which allows every one of them to earn very low profit on monthly basis.
“How can they survive on such low profit,” he questioned, stating that most of the kerosene is sold in black market at a high rate.