Delhi becomes first kerosene-free city in India

The Delhi government on Tuesday announced that the national capital has become the first 'kerosene-free city' in the country.

"With the successful implementation of 'Delhi: A Kerosene-Free City Scheme, 2012', no subsidised kerosene is being issued in the national capital and the country can save upto Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) every year," said S S Yadav, Commissioner, Food Supply and Weights and Measures.

The scheme was launched in 2012 in collaboration with three Oil Marketing Companies and Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for which Delhi Government had incurred an expenditure of Rs 62 crore (Rs 620 million).

Delhi was earlier getting about 53,000 kilolitre of kerosene oil every year from the Centre, which was issued to eligible households at a subsidised rate.

At the present market rate of the oil, it would have cost the government about Rs 200 crore per year as subsidy, Yadav said.

"Under the scheme, free gas connections along with liquefied petroleum gas filled cylinders, two burner gas stove, regulator and suraksha pipe were issued to the Jhuggi

Ration Card, Below Poverty Line and Antodaya Ann Yojana ration card holders who were using kerosene oil for cooking," Yadav said.

A total 3.56 lakhs such ration card holders could benefit from the scheme but those families which already had an LPG connection were not eligible under it.

Yadav said the department received 2,14,149 applications for free gas connection under the scheme, of which 20,732 were rejected.

"Remaining families did not come forward to take benefit of the scheme because either they already had an LPG connection or they were not interested in the scheme either due to migration or other reasons," he said.

This step would help in environment conservation as no toxic fumes would emanate from burning the oil, lesser possibility of adulteration in petrol, beneficial impact on air pollution and improvement in the quality of life of people benefited under the scheme besides lesser fire accidents and burn injuries, Yadav said.

He said any person indulging in kerosene oil trade is liable for prosecution under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Delhi Kerosene Oil Control Order, 1962.

A complaint can be registered in this regard on the helpline number 1967, Yadav added.