PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Bharadisain Speaker Ritu Khanduri directed the State government should ensure that there is no black- marketing of the LPG cylinders in the State. She said that the cooking gas is an essential commodity and the administration should take stern action on those engaging in its black marketing. The directive of the speaker came after discussion in the house on the shortage of the LPG cylinders and their black marketing on the fourth day of the Budget session of Vidhan Sabha on Thursday. The house witnessed pandemonium on the issue following which the house was adjourned for 45 minutes. When the proceedings of the day commenced, the leader of opposition ( LoP) Yashpal Arya and Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh demanded discussion on the subject under rule 310 on which the Speaker Ritu Khanduri gave her ruling that the issue would be taken up under rule 58 after the lunch. Immediately after the lunch when the issue was taken up, the Parliamentary Affairs minister Subodh Uniyal said that since LPG supply and distribution is the central subject, it cannot be discussed in the State assembly. The Congress members vehemently opposed the government stand. They pointed out that the people of the State are affected by the severe shortage of the LPG cylinders. They said that due to a ban on supply of commercial cylinders, the hotels and restaurants have been closed. The speaker said that since the government has stated that the issue concerns the Central government, there should be no discussion on it. The opposition members objected to it by stating that since the speaker has allowed discussion on the issue, the government should submit its reply after the end of the debate on the work adjournment motion. Amid heated exchanges between the treasury and the opposition benches, the speaker adjourned the house for 30 minutes and later extended it for 15 more minutes. Later the discussion was allowed on the issue by the speaker in which only LoP Arya took part on behalf of the opposition. He said that due to shortage of cooking gas long lines are being witnessed outside the gas agencies. Arya said that there are more than 29 lakh domestic and 55,000 commercial consumers in the State. He said that there are 359 gas agencies in the State. Arya said that the business of hotel and restaurant owners has been severely affected due to a ban imposed on distribution of commercial cylinders. He said that the black marketing of LPG cylinders has started and the government should take immediate steps to prevent black marketing of cylinders. In his response, the Parliamentary Affairs minister Uniyal said that the shortage in supplies of the cooking gas has occurred due to the ongoing war in West Asia. He said that the State government has evoked powers under the Essential Services Maintenance Act and has directed all district magistrates to take action against the hoarders and black -marketers. The Forest Development Corporation has been asked to ensure supplies of firewood when needed.
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