Karnataka govt moves to make Bangalore free of kerosene

State govt has sent proposal to Centre, seeking to give LPG connection to all cardholders who currently use kerosene

In an effort to make the state capital Bangalore a "kerosene-free" city, the Karnataka government has sent a proposal to the Centre, seeking to give LPG connection to all cardholders who currently use kerosene.

"It would benefit all stake-holders. It's eco-friendly. People need not wait in ration shops for kerosene for 4-5 hours," the state's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Dinesh Gundurao told reporters here today.

"We are giving shape to the programme. We are in dialogue with the Centre." He expects more than 95 per cent of cardholders, who currently use kerosene, to shift to LPG. While the government would not make it mandatory, it would offer the option to the people to go in for LPG connection.

Meanwhile, the government has cut off kerosene supply to 1.2 million cardholders who were found to have LPG connection. Issue price of kerosene from oil marketing companies has come down to Rs 15.60 per litre from Rs 16.10, and the benefit has entirely been passed on to the cardholders. BPL cardholders now get four litres of kerosene per month, compared to the earlier three litres, Gundurao added.