Arvind Kejriwal questions CNG rate hike, says will try to roll it back

 

Ghaziabad, 27 Dec 2013 (PTI): Questioning the timing of the steep hike in CNG prices, Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that he will examine whether the increase can be rolled back after taking charge as Delhi’s chief minister. "What was the need to increase CNG prices when a new government is to take over in Delhi? It raises suspicions about their intention. I will look at the files once I take over tomorrow and see if the hike can be rolled back," Kejriwal said here.

 

The AAP leader will be sworn in as Delhi chief minister tomorrow.

 

Autorickshaw drivers in the city have threatened a strike demanding revision of fares in the wake of the hike in prices of CNG that fuels public transport on Delhi roads. A significant section of auto drivers had extended support to AAP in the election.

 

Kejriwal requested them not to go on strike and promised to examine the issue. "They (auto drivers) have been associated with us for a long time ... When I take charge tomorrow, I will hold consultations with them and try to find out a solution. We cannot rule out the possibility of a hike in auto fares in Delhi, if necessary," Kejriwal told reporters.

 

Price of CNG or compressed natural gas was hiked by 4.50 per kg on Thursday. It was the second price hike of CNG in last three months. CNG will now cost Rs 50.10/kg in Delhi and Rs 56.70/kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) has said. The hike came into effect from midnight last night.

 

Delhi Government has a five per cent stake in IGL and can at best subsidize the hike which it cannot rollback on its own.

 

The IGL, on Friday said the rate increase was forced by court orders that had led to cut in allocation of cheaper domestic natural gas.

 

Meanwhile, commenting on a sting operation carried out by a news channel purportedly showing that government files were being torn, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said it was the chief secretary’s responsibility to take care of files. "This also shows there is large-scale corruption in these departments and officials who are seeking transfer are understood to have been involved in it," he said.