Sudden PNG Price Hike Sparks Industrial Uproar in Bahadurgarh, Haryana
A sudden and unexpected hike in Piped Natural Gas (PNG) prices in Bahadurgarh, located in Jhajjar district of Haryana, has triggered strong resentment among local industrialists. The Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) has termed the increase unjustified and is urgently seeking government intervention to address the issue.
Industrialists Voice Concerns Over Rising Production Costs
Amid broader concerns over petroleum product supplies due to the ongoing war in West Asia, the PNG price hike has placed a heavy financial burden on industries in Bahadurgarh. Industrialists have written to the Prime Minister, the Union Petroleum Minister, and the Haryana Chief Minister, stating that the increase would significantly raise production costs and force industries to scale down output. They argue that this could lead to liquidity stress, reduced production, and potential job losses if the issue persists.
Narinder Chhikara, Senior Vice President of the BCCI, highlighted that there has been no official notification or public announcement regarding the price increase, yet Haryana City Gas has raised the rate. The revised pricing sees the basic rate increased from Rs 57.92 to Rs 63.92 per kg, while the 50% supply rate remains at Rs 89.90 per kg. Chhikara pointed out that no similar hike has been reported in Delhi under Indraprastha Gas or in nearby industrial hubs such as Faridabad and Kundli, placing Bahadurgarh industries at a clear competitive disadvantage.
Impact on Bahadurgarh's Industrial Ecosystem
Bahadurgarh is a major industrial hub, housing over 9,000 industries and providing employment to around four to five lakh workers. The region is particularly significant as one of India's largest non-leather footwear manufacturing hubs, with nearly 60% of the country's production concentrated in the local Footwear Park. This makes the area highly sensitive to fluctuations in fuel and energy costs.
Chhikara, who also serves as vice-president of the Bahadurgarh Footwear Park Association, warned that any sudden and unjustified increase in gas prices has a direct and severe impact on production costs. It disrupts industrial operations and creates financial stress across the entire ecosystem. He added that at present, gas supply to industrial units has been restricted to 772.7 SCM/day (Permissible Limit), and any overdrawal is being charged at significantly high rates, further increasing the burden on industries.
Government Response and Industry Demands
Taking a serious note of the issue, Bahadurgarh SDM Abhinav Siwach convened a meeting with officials of the private company supplying PNG to industries. During the meeting, company officials assured that they would take up the matter with higher authorities and consider withdrawing the price hike. However, industrialists remain concerned and are calling for immediate government intervention to safeguard operations and protect the livelihoods of lakhs of workers dependent on the Bahadurgarh industrial belt.
Chhikara urged authorities to ensure transparency in pricing and implement uniform gas rates across regions to maintain a level playing field for industries. The BCCI continues to advocate for measures that would prevent such abrupt increases and support the sustainability of local businesses.
