Didi Slams Centre for Fuel Crisis

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday blamed the Center for the LPG crisis in the country following the war in the Middle East. He claimed that the union government could avoid the announcement that consumers should wait at least 25 days of supply between two bookings.

Ms Banerjee told a Bengal TV news channel: “The Center should have first ensured adequate reserves of LPG, oil and gas. But instead of doing so, it imposed restrictions without proper planning to deal with the situation. Why did they announce that people will not be able to buy petrol if 25 days have not passed between two reservations?”

“The announcement caused panic among the people. Alternatives should be considered before making such an announcement. The Center can make SIR, delete voters, but it cannot manage the country’s natural gas and oil reserves. Lack of correct policies to combat the crisis indirectly helps black marketeers.”

“The Center is just busy with politics, not dealing with price hikes. Our government has financial problems but we can try to help people. I want to provide a subsidy if necessary, but it won’t help much if the gas itself is not available,” the CM said. He then held a meeting with representatives of oil marketing companies to review their stocks and supplies.

“We have decided to create an SOP to spread awareness among the public on a daily basis. We have requested them not to send refined gas out of the state until the situation normalizes. We have refineries in Haldia, Kalyani and Durgapur. We have also appealed to them to ensure uninterrupted supply for midday meals, hospitals and hostels and not cause trouble to domestic consumers,” Ms. Banerjee said.

He suggested that the state government can create a green channel for seamless supply of gas cylinders in all areas.