Panaji, May 7 (TOI): Goa can likely be the first state in India with 100% households owning a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) connection.

Currently, 1.25 lakh families avail of the kerosene allocation from the department of civil supplies. Officials told TOI that in three months, they will be introduced to LPG and encouraged to continue its use.

"Goa could well be the first state in India to go kerosene-free in cooking," civil supplies director Vikas Gaunekar, said, adding, "This is possible not only because Goa is small but also because 64% of our population lives in the urban area and uses LPG, thus making it easier for us to penetrate into rural areas where LPG is not widely used."

Those who can't afford standard 14.5kg cylinders have the option of using 5kg cylinders or even 2kg fibre bottles of gas that will introduced in the state soon.

In a bid to make Goa smoke-free, the civil supplies department has been pushing for the use of LPG cylinders as opposed to using kerosene as a cooking fuel, a method still prevalent in the state, mostly among the migrant population.

"We want a smoke-free Goa, for which we are currently identifying people without LPG services, so that we can introduce LPG usage to them. For those who cannot afford the standard 14.5kg cylinders, there is the option of using 5kg cylinders. Also, 2kg fibre bottles of gas will also be introduced in the state," Gaunekar said.

Goa area sales manager, Hindustan Petroleum, Arvind Singh, said these families will be provided LPG services through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Those who prefer availing of LPG on their own are also free to do so, he stated.

"Our dealers are engaging in field activity. Data matching with the civil supplies department is also being done for the identification of non-LPG ration card holders. In no time, Goa will be the first state where 100% households will have LPG connections," Singh said.

He added that even homeless people in the state will be educated on the usage of LPG services.