Warring seeks MSP guarantee as promised to farmers Demands Rs 50-70 cr annual research grant for PAU Seeks debt relief for farmers on pattern of industry loan waiver Reveals, Punjab didn’t get a penny of Rs 1600 cr flood relief Demands withdrawal of the law on stubble burning Chandigarh/New Delhi 18 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today demanded that the government of India should bring the law to provide MSP guarantee to the farmers as had been promised to them when they withdrew their 15 month long strike against three farm laws. He also demanded Rs 50 crore to Rs 70 crores annual research grant for the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to improve the research facilities for better agriculture. The Ludhiana MP made a strong case for providing debt relief to the small and marginal farmers through one time settlement by waiving off their interests. He asked, if the government can waive off loans worth Rs 1...
LPG Crisis Brewing in Punjab, Distributors Raise Alarm
Call for Urgent Steps to Tackle LPG Crisis
Chandigarh 17 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The Federation of LPG Distributors of Punjab (FLDP) expressed their concern while highlighting the ground realities of the emerging LPG supply crisis in the region amid escalating tensions in West Asia during a press conference held at Chandigarh Press Club on Tuesday. The Federation expressed serious concern over the growing mismatch between official assurances of adequate LPG availability and the actual situation being faced by distributors and consumers on the ground. Gurpal Singh Mann, President, FLDP stated that recent geo-political escalation resulting in disruptions of critical supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, have led Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement a sudden and steep increase in LPG prices, raising domestic cylinder rates by ₹60 and commercial cylinders by ₹115. This abrupt decision, taken without adequate groundwork or communication has triggered panic among consumers and created apprehensions about a potential supply shortage.
The Federation further noted that instead of easing the situation, subsequent policy decisions have added to confusion and anxiety. The imposition of restrictive booking intervals which is once every 25 days for urban consumers and once every 45 days for rural consumers, along with the temporary suspension of booking channels for three to four days has resulted in a surge of pending bookings. Distributors are now facing increased public pressure without sufficient clarity or support while supply from bottling plants continues to fall short of meeting existing demand.Federation emphasized that despite official statements suggesting adequate supply, distributors across the state are grappling with mounting backlogs and inconsistent deliveries, eroding public trust. It also highlighted that restrictive policies, sudden price hikes and system disruptions have collectively fuelled panic among consumers.Additionally, it underlined a complete disconnect between policymakers and ground-level stakeholders, as distributors are neither consulted nor involved in decision-making and there is no visible mechanism to capture real-time consumer feedback.
The Federation also raised serious concerns regarding the increasing pressure and risk faced by distributors and their staff due to rising public frustration over issues beyond their control. In view of the prevailing situation, FLDP urged immediate and constructive intervention. The Federation emphasized the need for transparent and consistent communication with both distributors and the public. It called for rationalization of booking restrictions to remove confusion and avoid discrimination. FLDP also stressed the importance of increasing supply allocation and ensuring bottling plants operate at full capacity. It further recommended the implementation of 100% Direct Account Credit (DAC) to prevent diversion and ensure fair distribution
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