The Hindu : Front Page : No plan to link gas supply to ration card, says YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 11, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

No plan to link gas supply to ration card, says YSR

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister allays fears, asks people not to panic

HYDERABAD: Allaying apprehensions over the move to link the supply of LPG cylinders with ration cards, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has asked people not to panic as the Government has not taken any decision in that direction.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed the cooking gas supply position with senior officials on Thursday, is understood to have said that any decision on linking the two would be taken only after obtaining public opinion on the issue. The Government would not take any decision that would cause inconvenience to consumers, women in particular. Dr. Reddy, according to sources in the Chief Minister's Office, is reported to have expressed surprise over the propaganda being carried out on the issue. The proposal was mooted by the Civil Supplies Department to check the diversion of LPG cylinders to black market and hotels and restaurants by some dealers leading to shortage of gas. However, the Chief Minister is understood to have applied brakes on the proposal and wanted the officials concerned to study the impact any such decision would have on the people.

Raghuveera clarifies

Civil Supplies Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, too, clarified that it was only a loud thinking and no final decision had been taken. It was based on a suggestion from some quarters.

Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating a conference on "Rural India", Mr. Reddy said the Government had considered the proposal only with the view of making ration card a proof of identification. If the public did not want it, the proposal would be dropped.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section