LPG price hike dominates Assembly proceedings

Srinagar, October 03 (Scoop News) -   Cutting across party affiliations, the J&K Assembly today expressed concern over the hike in LPG prices as soon as the Assembly proceedings started today morning, members of both treasury bench as well as opposition parties jointly sought adjournment of the Question Hour to facilitate discussion on the issue of hike in LPG cylinders in the state.

Initiating the discussion on the issue, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan said that the present price hike on LPG cylinders is un-bearable for common men. He said that the provision of only 3 subsidized cylinders per connection up to march-2013 is also worrisome. He said the price hike in LPG cylinders is unreasonable adding that the Union Government should either roll back price hike  in LPG or provide relief package to the state to salvage the burden.

He said gas supply in rural areas is much worst than city people. He said the procedure for re-verification of gas connection is cumbersome and it needs to be simplified by involving Revenue and CA&PD departments. He called for increasing the capacity of LPG bottling plants in the valley adding that presently there is only one bottling plant in Pulwama. He said other gas agencies should also be asked to set up their bottling plants in the state to cater the increasing demand for LPG.

Mrs. Mehbooba Mufti said that the increase in LPG prices is a matter of serious concern and there should be roll back keeping in view  the difficult geography and topography of the state as compared to other states. She said that most of the areas in the state remain cut off during winters. She said provision of only six LPG cylinders on subsidized cost per connection is not justified. She demanded to make the verification process of LPG connections simple.

Terming price hike of LPG unwarranted,  Harsh Dev Singh said that prices have been increased several times within a short span of time. He said that the government should take measures to control the prices adding that Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution department has Essential Commodities Act by which the prices could be controlled.  He also urged to make the verification process of LPG papers easy so that people do not feel inconvenience. He said price hike in gas and diesel is the basic cause of price hike in essential commodities.

 Nizam-ud-Din Bhat urged the government to announce some immediate sops to the consumers. He said the government should bear the burden of special subsidy and provide adequate supply of LPG to the people. He said Jammu and Kashmir has peculiar situation and many areas in valley and Ladakh regions remain cut of due to snowfall. So the curtailment in the subsidized LPG cylinders is unjustified and unaffordable. He also urged for making the verification process easy.

 Ashok Khajuria urged for passing a resolution urgently expressing people’s concern about the price rise on the essential commodities. He urged the State Government not to implement the price hike on LPG and diesel in Jammu and Kashmir as people cannot afford it.

Speaking in favour of the resolution,  G.M Mir said that everybody has great concern on this sensitive issue as the interests of the common are directly involved with this matter. However, he said, that the fiscal reforms are also essential  for the development of the Country.

He said that the State Government should take some extra ordinary steps in this connection and increase the subsidy on LPG cylinders. He said the state should take a cue from other congress ruled states to increase the cap of only 6 cylinders.

Engineer Abdul Rasheed enjoined upon the government to take immediate necessary steps to defuse the present situation arisen due to withdrawing of subsidy and re-verification of Gas Cylinder connections, in the State. He said the common man particularly the poor people has been badly affected due to increase in price hike in the essential commodities and price rise in Gas Cylinders.

The MLA appealed the Government to take necessary steps for increase the cap LPG cylinder.

Expressing his grave concern over this over the issue,  Abdul Rehman Veeri said that due to re- registration process, one lakh 20 thousand LPG connections have been blocked in Jammu only and added that the people of the State are facing tremendous difficulties. He said that the Government should take immediate steps to address this very sensitive issue, otherwise in the coming winter months the situation in valley would be grimmer. He warned the Government that if no action has been taken in this connection, the common people have to face more difficulties.

 Ashwani Sharma said that the government should take measured for increasing the number of subsidized cylinders. He demanded bifurcation of families and preparation of new ration cards and make easy the verification process of documents for the LPG. He suggested to take check on the subsidy provided to industrialist.

Saying that check on price hike of PLG is not in the discretion of state government, Mir Saifullah suggested for bringing resolution for provision of LPG on lower rate for the state.

He said that the price issue of essentials has made the life of common man more miserable, adding that prices hike of LPG is unaffordable to common man.

He said that the subsidy should be given on domestic connections. He opined that the subsidy or incentives being provided to sick units needs to stop and these should be diverted for the welfare of common man. He demanded special relief package for BPL beneficiaries, besides opening of sale outlets of cylinder at block level.

 Jugal Kishore demanded roll back or decrease the prices of LPG and diesel as common man is facing hardships. He also urged to make easy the verification process of documents. 

 Abdul Majid Wani called for strengthening the monitoring mechanism to check the menace of black marketing of LPG cylinders and kerosene oil. He urged the government to take effective measures for regulating the supply of kerosene oil.

 Balwant Singh Mankotia suggested measures for judicious use of funds which can be utilized for granting LPG subsidy to the consumers. He suggested that government should stop the practice of darbar move which will save Rs. 300 crore annually.

 Nazir Ahmed Gurezi advocated a cap of 12 cylinders annually for the households of BPL. He also urged for adequate stocking of LPG for the ensuring winter in Gurez area.

 Mohammad Sharief Niaz supported the reforms introduced by the central government to bring the country’s economy on track. The reforms will have long term impact on the economy. He asked the state government to earmark some funds for granting subsidy to the consumers for additional subsidized LPG cylinders on the pattern of other states. He also urged the government to issue new ration cards to the deserving people, enabling them to avail benefits of subsidy and other government schemes.

 Vikar Rasool urged the State Government to come to the rescue of common man and provide special subsidy on gas cylinders on the analogy of Congress ruled States. He demanded adequate supply of K-oil in the rural areas.

He also supposed Central Government reformative measures to keep a check on the misuse of LGP, but simultaneously advocated for adequate supply of gas to the common man.

Prof Chaman Lal Gupta said that imposing restrictions on the subsidized LPG cylinders will have adverse affect on the forests and misuse of electricity. He described the move totally unjustified and great burden on the common man.       

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