Thane, Mumbai soon to become kerosene-free

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government plans to make Mumbai and Thane kerosene-free in the next two months, Kailash Pagare, Rationing Controller for the two cities, said on Saturday. He said demand for kerosene had gone down considerably in the two cities and stood at 1,896 kilolitres (kl) against 5,839 kilolitres in June last year. The drop in kerosene usage had saved the government Rs 12.14 crore as it cost Rs 19.5 per litre, Pagare informed. He said the demand for kerosene, which stood at 50,000 kl in 1993 and 40,000 kl in 1996, was now on the decline because of increase in LPG connections to lower income group (LIG) families.