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Dist admn all set to declare M’lore, Ullal Kerosene-free from Nov 1


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 23, 2014:  With just a month left for declaring Mangalore City Corporation and Ullal Town Municipal informal rationing areas as Kerosene-free, District-in-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said that arrangements have been made with the banks to lend loans at low interest rates to the beneficiaries who will get new LPG connections.


Kerosene


The district administration has decided to declare Mangalore and Ullal as kerosene-free on November 1, by giving LPG connections to all households.

In a preparatory meeting to sort out issues pertaining to the plan of providing LPG connections to every household, at the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday, the Minister said that all those who are obtaining kerosene through their ration card will be provided LPG connections under the government schemes like 22.75 and 7.25. Those who are not eligible to avail benefits of the government schemes will be provided with a loan from South Canara District Credit Co-operative Bank or other nationalised banks. A person who will get new LPG connection will have to shell out Rs 4,000 for purchasing cylinder, regulator, stove, rubber tube and gas lighter. It has been directed to the gas agencies not to trouble the beneficiaries while giving the LPG connections, he said.

Hailing the initiative, he said it was a step towards controlling environmental pollution and affect of kerosene on human health. The programme if becomes successful, will be implemented across the district.

LPG to all

Clarifying doubts over the implementation of the programme, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that ration card was not mandatory to get LPG connection. Even as MCC Opposition leader Premanand Shetty kept alleging that LPG was disconnected in his house due to not renewing ration card, the Food and Civil Supplies DD stated that ration card had nothing to do with LPG.

“The person should submit an identity and address proof like voter ID, driving license, passport and the like to get LPG connection. House door number too is not required to get the gas connection. The district administration has not yet stopped the supply of kerosene. The decision on it will be taken after all households in MCC and Ullal TMC get LPG connection,” the DC said.

Special camps

Of the 23,875 BPL card holders in MCC and Ullal informal rationing area, 7,500 households are yet to get LPG connection, who are the target beneficiaries of the kerosene-free Mangalore programme. In order to make the process hassle-free, two-day drive will be conducted on October 8 and 9 at Lalbagh, Surathkal, Kavoor and Ullal city/municipal corporation offices to help the people who wish to get LPG connections. Following the progress of the camps, another two day camp will be organised at the same venue on October 18 and 19.

Mayor Mahabala Marla, MLAs J R Lobo, Mohiudeen Bava, MLC Ivan D’Souza and others were present at the meeting.

 

Courtesy: Deccan Herald