Kilinochchi kerosene shortage continues

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 February 1999, 22:13 GMT]
Although the actual requirement of kerosene in the Kilinochchi district for domestic usage and agricultural purposes - 3175 barrels per month - was brought to the Ministry of Defence’s notice, and appeals made by aid workers, the MoD has only approved 625 barrels of kerosene per month, sources in Kilinochchi district said today.

Officials said that 3175 barrels of kerosene - 1675 barrels for domestic usage and 1500 barrels for agricultural purposes - is needed in the Kilinochchi district each month.

This figure was reached by assessing the needs according to the crop calendar and the size of the area under cultivation in the 1998/1999 cycle.

But the Ministry of Defence has approved only 525 barrels of kerosene for domestic usage and only 100 barrels for cultivation.

The quantity of kerosene approved for agriculture is not sufficient to meet the ploughing of the targeted 11,600 hectares the sources pointed out.

Furthermore, the presently authorised quota of 525 barrels of kerosene is not sufficient to meet the domestic usage and other utility services in the district, they added.

Kerosene is the only fuel used by the residents in the Vanni, for various purposes, from providing light in their houses to running vehicles such as vans, lorries, a few buses and tractors.

At present, a litre of kerosene fetches Rs.110/- to Rs.140/- in the Vanni said aid workers.