‘Over 3.5 lakh given LPG connections to make Delhi kerosene free’

“Under the scheme, free gas connection along with an LPG cylinder, two burner gas stoves, regulator and suraksha pipe, were issued to those with Jhuggi Ration Card (JRC), Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards, and who used kerosene oil for cooking. There were around 3.56 lakh people who had these ration cards,” Food Supply and Weights and Measures Commissioner S S Yadav, said.

However, those families which already had an LPG connection were not eligible for the scheme, he added.

According to Yadav, the department had received 2,14,149 applications for free gas connections under the scheme, of which 20,732 were rejected.

Free connections have been provided to the remaining 2 lakh families.

“Before Delhi became kerosene-free, it received about 53,000 Kilolitres (KL) of kerosene oil every year from the Indian government. This was issued to eligible households at the rate of 12.5 litres every month at a highly subsidised price of Rs 15 per litre,” a press release issued by Delhi government said.