Hill consumers have to pay higher for domestic gas cylinders, Raju Bista tells Petroleum Minister

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, MAY 18, 2023 :  BJP MP of Darjeeling Raju Bista on Thursday met with Union Minister of Urban Affairs, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep S Puri to discuss issues concerning Darjeeling hills. During his recent visit to the constituency, Bista was informed about the price difference between hills and the plains in terms of domestic gas cylinders. 

Highlighting this, he informed the Minister that given the geographic positioning, people in the hill region suffer more economic hardships and higher prices of domestic gas cylinders impacted the people negatively. He also informed him that despite taking Rs 30 extra, as delivery charge, the distributors only did “point delivery.” 

Consumers were asked to pick up their cylinders from a point in the area, whereas the delivery charge should have included door-step delivery. The Minister assured Bista that he would have the matter examined at the earliest, and address the problem. 

Bista thanked the Minister for providing funding towards drinking water projects in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik Municipalities and Siliguri Municipal Corporation. He also inquired into the status of funding for the drinking water project in the Kurseong Municipality area. The Minister informed him that he would have the Kurseong Municipality issue inquired into and get back to him within the next week. 

He reiterated that the government would provide all necessary funds and support to ensure 100 percent drinking water connectivity in Kurseong and all other municipalities in the Darjeeling region. Bista also informed the minister about the delay in the execution and implementation of the AMRUT Scheme under Darjeeling Municipality for which the Centre had already allocated Rs 204.84crore. 

Though funds had already been sanctioned, the progress of work towards providing water to every household in the Darjeeling Municipal area had been delayed. Wherever work had been done, it was substandard. 

The Minister has said that he would have the problem examined, and ensure early implementation of the project. If necessary, he would order an inquiry and audit into the project. 

“I am most appreciative of the people who have shared their concerns with me, for our region to develop in true sense, We need informed and educated citizens, ”he said