Srinagar, Sep 17: The centre government decision restricting the number of subsidized LPG cylinders to six per year per household has worried the consumers in the Valley.
 The consumers said the ordinary people would face the brunt of the order more during winters, when average gas consumption per household crosses two cylinders per month.
 “During winters temperatures in Kashmir drop sub-zero pushing up the average consumption of domestic gas to more than two cylinders per month. How can a poor family which cannot afford to get the commodity at market price, manage with one gas cylinder for two months,” said Arif Ahmad, a consumer.
 The consumers said even in summer one gas cylinder cannot suffice to two months. "The average consumption of gas by a household in Kashmir is one cylinder for three weeks. It is practically impossible to manage kitchen on six cylinders a year,” the consumers said.
 Many consumers said the state government should seek some “concession” for the consumers in Kashmir given the peculiar climatic conditions of this place as also the widespread unemployment.
 “The state government should plead for raising the cap by the centre to at least 12 cylinders per year for the consumers in Kashmir,” they said.
 Pertinently, the Delhi Government has announced that it has raised the cap for subsidized LPG cylinders from six to nine by providing three more cylinders in a year to economically disadvantaged families.
 While the Central government is still considering a partial rollback to lift the cap of subsidized LPG cylinders from six to 10 or 12, this decision to provide more subsidised LPG cylinders to the poor has been welcomed by many.
 Meanwhile, consumers who don’t have the documents today complained that they were being denied the product by the gas agencies or forced to pay more to get the gas.
 “A dealer asked me to pay Rs 600 for the cylinder because I was not having the document,” said Imran Bhat of Lal Bazar.
 The consumers alleged that gas dealers were demanding hefty amounts for gas as also for new registrations.
 “Dealers are demanding any amount between Rs 6500 to Rs 7000 for new registration. How can a poor person afford to pay such a huge amount just for registration when he has the cylinder,” said Muhammad Maqbool.
 Pertinently, households running out of LPG are finding it difficult to get refill in the market.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST