Govt raises LPG subsidy cap, now 9 cylinders a
year
The government on Thursday raised
the annual cap on supply of cheap cooking gas to nine cylinders from six and
gave freedom to state-run oil companies to raise price of diesel "from
time to time".
The new cap on cooking gas would
come into effect from April 1, oil minister said after the meeting of the
Cabinet's panel on political affairs that took the decisions.
As a fallout of the higher cap, the
consumers would now be able to avail five cheap cylinders between September 14
last year, when the cap was imposed, and March 31 this year. This level was
earlier set at three cylinders during the period.
The increase in the cap on
subsidized cooking gas cylinders would come as a relief to consumers. More so
since it did not come with an increase in the current price, as was suggested
by a finance ministry panel. Together, the two would help blunt some of the
political criticism that is expected from the Opposition parties.
Source : Times of India.
