Uttarakhand yet to decide on LPG cap

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had promised to provide 12 subsidised cylinders

Uttarakhand is eagerly awaiting the Centre’s final decision to increase the cap on subsidised liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders from six to nine in the wake of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s promise of providing a total of 12 subsidised cylinders in the state.

After making an announcement for increasing the cap during the October 10 Tehri Lok Sabha by-election, Congress sources said the chief minister Bahuguna would take a final call once the issue of nine subsidised cylinders is settled at the central government’s level.

Amid growing opposition on the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders, the chief minister had said he would launch efforts to increase the cap to 12 cylinders a year, instead of nine as promised by the Centre.

After not getting a favourable reply from the Centre, Bahuguna said he would launch concerted efforts with the help of Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir governments on this. “This will also help in reducing pressure on our forests,” Bahuguna had said.

The ruling Congress is facing opposition from various quarters in the state on the central government’s decision to put a cap on the subsidized cylinders. Bahuguna’s son Saket lost the Tehri Lok Sabha by-election against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate Mala Raj Laxmi Shah. Congress leaders have blamed the cap on the LPG cylinders issue as the main reason for the defeat of Saket.

Leader of the opposition Ajay Bhatt has asked the chief minister to fulfill his promise of providing three subsidised cylinders as early as possible.

Congress sources said Bahuguna was likely to meet central leaders on the issue.

Congress-ruled states have promised to bear the subsidy burden of three subsidised cylinders in addition to the cap of six, the chief minister had said he felt the Centre should now bear the subsidy burden in nine cylinders and for the remaining three, the state government should chip in.

When contacted, state Congress Vice-President Suryakant Dhasmana said the state government would fulfill its promise of providing three subsidised cylinders once the issue of nine LPG cylinders is settled by the petroleum ministry. “I think it will take another one week. After that we will also fulfill our promise of providing three subsidised cylinders that will take the total such cylinders in the hill state to 12,” said Dhasmana.