Patna: While the government faced criticism from all quarters on marginal dips in fuel prices, the newly revised cooking gas prices by state owned oil companies has choked homemakers. They claim the double blow has made them bebas aam aadmi (helpless common people).
As per Friday's revisions, the price of a 14.2kg domestic gas cylinder was raised by Rs 52. Before the announcement, the residents had to pay Rs 734 but with the hike, the new price is Rs 786. However the hike is applicable on both subsidised and non-subsidised gas cylinders, said an LPG gas distributor in Patna.
According to him, the 19kg cylinders used for commercial purposes had their prices raised by Rs 82.50. Earlier, it was sold at Rs 1,318.50 but now it will cost Rs 1,401 in Patna.
The move comes amid the heat over rising petrol prices across the country. The fuel prices were on Saturday reduced marginally for the fourth day after it remained high for 16 consecutive days in the past month.
"While achhe din failed to touch the ground, gachhe ke din aa gaye hai (days when people are being made fools has arrived). I gave up my subsidy during the much touted 'give it up campaign' though I was eligible. The increased prices will disturb our household budget and now the situation has turned worse for the common man," said Amitabh Kumar, a resident.
Kalavati Devi, a Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme beneficiary from Naubatpur sub-division in Patna, told The Telegraph that she brought liquefied natural gas (LPG) in her home as it's a clean fuel but the central government cut the subsidy and even increased its prices. She said: "We are daily wagers and usually have no money at all at the end of the month. We would prefer to switch to traditional cooking fuels such as wood and dung, because we can spend Rs 20 on such fuels from our daily earning."
Kalavati said: "If the government is really serious about promoting clean fuel they should provide cylinders with an option to pay on instalments like people buy mobile phones on instalments."
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, to enhance the penetration of LPG in the country, the oil marketing companies announced a loan scheme on April 1, 2018, for Ujjwala beneficiaries who can avail the loan facility for the first six refills. But as people have to buy cylinders on market rates until the loan amount paid in full. She added: "If we have small amounts in hand how can we buy refills?"
Vijay Kumar Shreevastav, secretary, All India LPG Distributors' Association, Bihar chapter, explained that the central government charges 5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 14.2kg domestic gas cylinders. As per the new prices, the total amount of GST is approximately Rs 39 on each cylinder.
However, the rate of GST is 18 per cent on commercial cylinders, the total amount of GST on such cylinders is around Rs 214 according to new prices.
Meanwhile, every household in the country is entitled to 12 LPG cylinders of 14.2kg each at subsidised rates in a year. Any quantity beyond that is to be bought at market rate. Moreover, since May last year, the oil companies had hiked LPG rates on more than 10 occasions. Earlier, they were allowed to increase Rs 4 per cylinder per month only.
