New Delhi: On a request from the Centre in
view of the festival season, Delhi Government today deferred a
decision to withdraw the subsidy on LPG cylinders.
Though the matter was discussed in the Delhi Cabinet
meeting, a decision has been deferred, an official said.
Emerging from the meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit
said "LPG subsidy will remain the same."
Earlier in the day, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said he
has personally requested Dikshit not to increase the prices
and the Chief Minister assured him that there will be no hike.
"I personally requested Dikshit not to increase the prices
of LPG cylinders as it would cause hardships to housewives
during the festive season. She readily agreed. Dikshit said
there will be no price hike," Deora said.
The cash-strapped city Government had plans to increase
the price of the LPG cylinders with officials indicating that
Government was set to withdraw the subsidy of Rs 40 per
cylinder or cut down the subsidy by Rs 25.
The current price of an LPG cylinder is Rs 280 and the
current subsidy of Rs 40 is costing the state exchequer Rs 168
crore annually.
In June last year, the state government had announced a
subsidy of Rs 40 per cylinder after the Centre hiked LPG
prices by Rs 50 per cylinder.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 19:56