Gas price hike again!

The idea to raise the price of gas in two phases from March is very unreasonable. The decision, to come into effect in two phases between March and June this year, will see a quantum jump in the price of gas. The logic for two-phased increase, so that people do not feel the pinch, is a shoddy and cruel joke on the consumers, more so when the increase of gas price twice in a year itself violates the existing law. 

The argument offered by the BERC in support of raising the gas price does not wash. The gas sector is not subsidised at all, and as far we know, not only has Titas Gas been in the green since 2007, and has also been running up huge profits every year since then. We understand too that the selling price of gas is more than the cost of production. And the gas companies have surplus in their kitty, reportedly, to carry out development activities in the sector.  That being so we are at a loss to understand why the consumers are being burdened with the illogical gas price increase. 

If the decision is implemented, the consumers will be suffering a 100 percent increase in eight years, and a 50 percent increase in the spate of three months only from March to June. Needless to say, this will have a most deleterious effect on every sector of the economy, and with unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the situation, the hardest hit will be the low and middle income groups, in particular, who are already having to make both ends meet with the prices of consumer goods spiraling out of control. Withdraw the injudicious decision.