Bengaluru: Bengaluru is all set to be declared the country’s first ‘kerosene-free’ metro city. The state’s Department of Food and Civil Supplies will be providing free LPG connections to 30,000 families in the city who were dependent on kerosene after which they will procure the ‘kerosene-free’ tag from the Centre.

According to survey from the department, more than 33,000 families depend on kerosene for cooking in the city. All the families will be provided free gas connections under the central government’s UJWALA project by September. Soon after that, the distribution of kerosene for cooking will be completely stopped in the Garden City.

A senior official said, “In April, we received a communication from the Union government about creating a kerosene-free environment. Considering that, we have taken measures to stop the sale of kerosene in the black market. For this, we have also received an incentive from the Union government.”

As many as 90,000 kilo litres of kerosene have been saved since April. The department had reduced kerosene supply by one litre per card. Around 60,000 kilo litres was sent back to the Centre.

The department officials also informed that a coupon system was implemented at 1,700 ration shops in June where the distribution of kerosene was done only for those who needed it acutely.

The State government earned Rs 90 crore as an incentive from the Union government for saving kerosene. The amount was disbursed to the State government last week by the Central government.