V Devanathan, TNN Jan 4, 2014, 02.38PM IST
MADURAI: The recent hike in the price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) announced by government-owned oil companies has come as a rude shock for the residents and commercial establishments in the city. While the households are already reeling under the burden of the spiralling prices of essential commodities, the LPG price hike by Rs 217 for non-subsidised domestic cylinder, is seen by residents as adding insult to their injury.
On the other hand, owners of commercial establishments like hotels and restaurants opine that the unprecedented hike of Rs 385 per commercial cylinder has pushed them further to the corner. The hoteliers who are already suffering due to poor business in the past couple of months have however ruled out increasing the prices of food items. They feel that any increase in the price would keep the customers away from the restaurants.
At present, the price of unsubsidised domestic LPG cylinder in Madurai is sold at Rs 1,275 from Rs 1,058, while the commercial cylinder is sold at Rs 2,205 instead of Rs 1,820, sources from LPG agencies said.
K L Kumar, president of Madurai district hoteliers association said, "Although we are used to the LPG price hike, the latest one is unprecedented. While our business has slumped over the last couple of months we now have to bear this brunt. The price rise would further slash our profit margin."
R Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association said that they are not likely to increase the food prices all of a sudden.
Meanwhile, the most-affected would be those staying in the city because of their jobs. These people usually don't have any subsidised LPG connection and depend on the non-subsidised cylinders. Many of these people also say that registering for the Aadhaar card is not easy. The officials involved in the registration are do not respond positively They prefer to register only 50 families a day, which makes the process to be carried out at a snail's pace, they charge.
"I have not yet registered for the Aadhaar card. So every time I will have to spend more money hereafter. My desperate attempts to register for the Aadhaar card failed as the officials concerned are sending me back and asking to come the next day," rued S Rajaram, a resident of K K Nagar.
With the steep hike women in the city also feel that the cap of nine subsidised cylinders per year is insufficient and that it should be increased to at least 12.
R Santhamani, a resident of Jaihindpuram said, "We are a family of five. We require at least 12 cylinders per year, whereas we get only nine under the subsidised price. We have no other go but to cut the use of cylinders by hook or by crook."
