1 Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009 SSS-AKG/11.00/1A ...

148Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009determining the price of electricity? That is done as per the ElectricityBill which was introduced in 2003 and passed by the previousGovernment. The electricity rate is growing every year. Electricity issuch an ingredient that both agriculture and industry are dependent onthat.The next point is the support price. The support price is fixed insuch way that it is too inadequate to compensate the production cost oftoday. That is most important. What are the hoarders doing? They arepaying bigger amount than the support price for the agricultural product.The peasants or farmers are compelled to sell their products to them.The reason is that the Government ordered support price is tooinadequate for them.Then comes the question of oil. It is an essential commodity fortransporting agricultural and industrial products. The price of oil isregularly rising in our country. When we ask the Government, they usedto say that it depends on international price. But it is a travesty of truth.What is the international price of oil today? It is 72 dollars per barrel. Ifyou convert it into the Indian currency, then, it comes to Rs.22 per litre.But what is the selling price in the market? It is Rs.33 per litre for dieseland Rs.45 per litre for petrol.As regards electricity, I have already referred to the price ofelectricity.My previous speaker has mentioned that growth is not a dirtyword. Yes, I appreciate that growth is not a dirty word. But certainlythe growth in the price of essential commodities is a dirty word. Nodoubt about it. That is what we want to say. (Contd. by 2W/VK)