Thiruvananthapuram: A war of words broke out between the ruling party and the opposition in the assembly over the crisis in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.KSRTC) on Thursday.
The opposition agreed to the government’s stand to approach the court against the hike in prices of fuel sold to bulk buyers, but said that by splitting up the corporation and forming a new company, Swift, the government would put the transport corporation on a slow death. leaving.
Responding to leave sought for adjournment motion by Tiruvanchoor RadhakrishnanTransport Minister Antony Raju said that KSRTC used to buy diesel at 10% below the retail price, but now the rates have been increased to such an extent that on Wednesday alone, the corporation needs Rs 75-83 lakh more for the purchase.
KSRTC will have to spend an additional Rs 25 crore every month due to the hike in prices, he added. He said the corporation would approach the High Court against the hike in fuel prices for bulk buyers, saying it was unfair. He said that the previous UDF government had given financial assistance of only Rs 1,534.86 crore to KSRTC, while the previous LDF government had given an assistance of Rs 4,924 crore.
opposition leader VD Satisan Opposed that the figures furnished by the Minister reveal the then and now position of the Transport Corporation as it has come to a position where the government had to provide such huge financial assistance to it.
Agreeing with the minister’s remarks regarding price hike in bulk purchase of fuel, he said the opposition would stand with the government in approaching the court against the hike in diesel and petrol prices.
Also, he said that the government has a duty to provide fuel subsidy to the corporation, as the state has received an additional Rs 5,000 crore from the Center in the last five years from the additional revenue earned through hike in fuel prices.
He said that apart from all the claims of the government, the party MLAs are getting many complaints regarding the cancellation of the services of KSRTC on various routes.
“The objective of KSRTC is not to make profit, it is a service on which lakhs of common people depend. 15% of the profitable services included in the new company SWIFT will help it to become a profitable company, but the remaining 85% which makes up the actual KSRTC is looking at huge losses,” he said.
Satheesan said the government, which is planning to borrow crores for the Silverline project, is not ready to spend even Rs 2,000 crore to revive KSRTC.
Meanwhile, the Transport Minister listed out the steps taken by the government to revive the organisation. He said that 1,336 new buses would be inducted in KSRTC in the next 18 months. Even the buses which are in non-operational condition are being used for innovative ideas by joining hands with Milma, KTDC and. Kudumbashree, The opposition later staged a walkout after Speaker MB Rajesh refused permission for the adjournment motion.
The opposition agreed to the government’s stand to approach the court against the hike in prices of fuel sold to bulk buyers, but said that by splitting up the corporation and forming a new company, Swift, the government would put the transport corporation on a slow death. leaving.
Responding to leave sought for adjournment motion by Tiruvanchoor RadhakrishnanTransport Minister Antony Raju said that KSRTC used to buy diesel at 10% below the retail price, but now the rates have been increased to such an extent that on Wednesday alone, the corporation needs Rs 75-83 lakh more for the purchase.
KSRTC will have to spend an additional Rs 25 crore every month due to the hike in prices, he added. He said the corporation would approach the High Court against the hike in fuel prices for bulk buyers, saying it was unfair. He said that the previous UDF government had given financial assistance of only Rs 1,534.86 crore to KSRTC, while the previous LDF government had given an assistance of Rs 4,924 crore.
opposition leader VD Satisan Opposed that the figures furnished by the Minister reveal the then and now position of the Transport Corporation as it has come to a position where the government had to provide such huge financial assistance to it.
Agreeing with the minister’s remarks regarding price hike in bulk purchase of fuel, he said the opposition would stand with the government in approaching the court against the hike in diesel and petrol prices.
Also, he said that the government has a duty to provide fuel subsidy to the corporation, as the state has received an additional Rs 5,000 crore from the Center in the last five years from the additional revenue earned through hike in fuel prices.
He said that apart from all the claims of the government, the party MLAs are getting many complaints regarding the cancellation of the services of KSRTC on various routes.
“The objective of KSRTC is not to make profit, it is a service on which lakhs of common people depend. 15% of the profitable services included in the new company SWIFT will help it to become a profitable company, but the remaining 85% which makes up the actual KSRTC is looking at huge losses,” he said.
Satheesan said the government, which is planning to borrow crores for the Silverline project, is not ready to spend even Rs 2,000 crore to revive KSRTC.
Meanwhile, the Transport Minister listed out the steps taken by the government to revive the organisation. He said that 1,336 new buses would be inducted in KSRTC in the next 18 months. Even the buses which are in non-operational condition are being used for innovative ideas by joining hands with Milma, KTDC and. Kudumbashree, The opposition later staged a walkout after Speaker MB Rajesh refused permission for the adjournment motion.