Tanah Bumbu residents complain LPG price Rp40.000

Batulicin, South Kalimantan 11/10 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Some residents of Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, complained about the price of 3 kilograms liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in recent weeks soared to Rp40 thousand per tube.

A teacher at SMPN 4 Simpang Empat, who is also a housewife, Nurul Hidayah, in Batulicin on Wednesday, said she was shocked by the increase in LPG price which reached Rp40 thousand per tube.

"The last time I bought 3 kg LPG was still Rp22 thousand. Two weeks later, when I wanted to refill the price had reached Rp40 thousand. I failed to buy and switch using firewood and kerosene for cooking," she said.

Looking for profit from selling is legitimate, she added, but the price set to Rp40 thousand per tube is not fair, because it exceeds the price in general.

Until now she did not know what causes the price of 3 kg LPG hike to two times the normal price. "Whether the subsidy from the government has been revoked or only the game of the merchants," she said.

Head of Building and Development of Trade at the Trade and Industry Agency Hariansya explained, until now the government did not revoke the subsidy of the 3 kg LPG. The agency has also received complaints from the public related to the soaring price of LPG.

"The Tanah Bumbu Government has taken a stand by conducting coordination meetings and forming a special team to supervise the distribution of 3 kg LPG, consisting of the Tanah Bumbu Regional Secretary, Head of Bappeda, Head of DPMD, Trade Agency and Police," he said.

The task of the team, he said, is to provide supervision and guidance to the bases until the retailers to sell subsidized LPG does not exceed the highest price limit (HET) already set,

The 3 kg LPG's HET ranges from Rp17 thousand to Rp22 thousand per tube. If any particular person dares to plays the price by exceeding the HET, then the authorized service and the police will deal with it accordingly.