Mangalore, Sep 23: Even though Mangalore and Ullal will be kerosene-free zones after November 1 this year, there will be no blanket ban on sale of kerosene, clarified Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai.
At a meeting convened to discuss preparations for declaring the jurisdictions of Mangalore City Corporation and Ullal Town Municipality as kerosene-free on the Rajyotsava Day, the Minister said that kerosene would be made available to the needy even after the declaration.
Earlier, many elected representatives in the meeting opposed any moves to stop the sale of kerosene in the city and the town after the declaration as it would affect many poor people.
Dayananda Shetty, a councillor in the corporation, said that total ban on the sale of kerosene would hit the large number of migrant workers in the city. It would not be possible for them to provide documents required to get an LPG gas connection, he said.
When the discussions on availing cooking gas connection turned to its link to having ration cards and non allotment of door numbers by urban local bodies, C.S. Sharanabasappa, Deputy Director, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, clarified that having a ration card was not mandatory to get cooking gas connection. A representative of an oil marketing company agreed with this.
Mr. Rai said non-allotment of door numbers was a different issue and urban local bodies would have to address it. It should not be linked to the plan to make the two urban areas kerosene-free, he said.
Deputy Commissioner A. B. Ibrahim said that proof of residence and proof of identity were enough to get the gas connection. A voter identify card met these requirements. If not, other documents as produced by voters to vote in the elections could be submitted.
Not satisfied with this, the elected representatives said that many poor people and migrant workers did not have any documents. Finally, the minister said that gas connection would be given to those who have the required documents. There are 7,500 such families. Camps would be conducted to provide connections to them on October 8, 9 and on October 18 and 19.
Mr. Ibrahim said that South Canara District Central Cooperative Bank has come forward to provide Rs. 4,000 as loan to those people who require a cooking gas connection. He said the bank had agreed to sanction loans on the basis of deposit receipt (for Rs. 1,800) issued to consumers.
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