The hottest news
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 22, 2012 -

One hottest news that everyone in Manipur like to hear is not about the visit of some high profile Central leaders to announce developmental packages in the state or the inspection tour of our hon'ble Chief Minister/Ministers to take stock of the developmental works being taken up in far flung areas.

Nor it is about the bomb blasts, encounters, arrests or protest demonstrations that the people like to read in their favourite newspapers every morning.

The only hottest news that everyone eagerly awaits to hear and listen every morning is the 'Gas News'.

It may sound funny to other people, but it is a reality nevertheless that every family in Manipur have been living through for the last many months.

One has to wait not just in terms of days or weeks but for months together for getting their LPG cylinders refill to keep the kitchen fire burning, literally.

The problem of shortage of cooking gas in Manipur is not a new thing as it is closely related to the frequent hindrance caused in transportation along the National Highways, which is always held up in ransom by every sundry organization in the state to press their demands.

But the problem has lingered on this time even though there has been no bandh or blockade along the National Highways, thus depriving the rightful share of the consumers for the last many months.

While the issue over cap on providing LPG cylinders to consumers may have shaken the very foundation of a coalition government at the Centre, back home, it has come to light that in addition to the perennial failure of the gas agencies to provide cooking gas on time, the consumers have all along been found cheated of their rightful share.

With a huge quantity of LPG cylinders meant for domestic use being diverted and given off for commercial purposes allegedly by some top officials of the state government in connivance with IOC officials, the consumers have been entitled to just four refill LPG cylinders in a year instead of the mandatory 14 LPG cylinders all these years until UPA government announced cap on LPG recently.

Of course, the cap on subsidized cooking gas cylinders has been subsequently raised from six to nine in the wake of public outcry all over the country.

Nonetheless, this raise is not likely to bring about any solace to the deprived consumers in the state until the existing unhealthy nexus between the unscrupulous officials of the state government and the IOC is snapped and their knuckles rapped.

Hope our hon'ble Minister in-charge of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, who is dreaming of delivering cooking gas right at the kitchen door of consumers, is listening.