Delhi struggles with six cylinder ruling

Reeling under inflation already, Delhiites have been angered further by the government’s decision to limit the number of subsidized cylinders per year for a family.

As per the union government’s recent ruling, diesel price will be raised from Rs. 42 to 47 a litre, and the number of cylinders provided to a family, at the present subsidized rate of Rs. 399, will be restricted to six a year only. Cylinders required beyond this will have to be bought at the market price of Rs. 750 and above as notified by oil companies every month.

While the record raise in diesel fare will lead to a jump in the price of almost every other item, the cap on subsidised cylinders will hit household kitchens most visibly and directly.
Understandably, housewives are the most annoyed. Renu Bhardawaj, a resident of Connaught Place says, “One cylinder gets exhausted in a month.

If there are guests at home or in winter, a cylinder finishes in just 20 days. How is one supposed to run a house with six cylinders for one full year? Buying six more cylinders at Rs 750 will shoot my yearly budget by Rs. 2100. Amongst all the price rise, how is a middle-class person supposed to afford this?”

Nanda Jain, who stays in Lajpat Nagar, says, “We have a big family. After hearing of this ruling, I have asked both my sons to get new gas connections in their names. If the authorities don’t have a problem with that, I’ll be able to manage my family with 18 subsidised cylinders a year.”

Nahid Tanvir, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, says, “The pipeline gas delivery system has been in my area for some time now. I was not getting it done as my house was under renovation. After learning of this, I’ll get the gas pipeline connection done first thing tomorrow morning.”

Not every Delhiite, though, is lucky to have gas pipe system in his/her area already. They are looking at other options. Sunil Kumar, a street-vendor and resident of Chattarpur says, “This kind of an impractical ruling by the government will only lead to more black-marketing. People like me, who cannot afford such expensive cylinders, will obviously look at the open market for cheap, stolen gas. How do you feed your family otherwise?”

Gajender Singh, an auto driver staying in Sant Nagar, says, “Our CM Sheila Dikshit recently announced that Delhi will be made kerosene-free; but with this ruling, I feel kerosene will be smuggled in more and more from neighbouring states. On one hand, you take away the poor man’s fuel kerosene. On the other, you limit the number of LPG cylinders. Where are you driving the common man?”