New Delhi: Cooking gas LPG price on Wednesday was hiked by a steep R 144.5 per cylinder due to spurt in benchmark global rates of the fuel. But to insulate domestic users, the government almost doubled the subsidy it provides on the fuel to keep per cylinder outgo almost unchanged.
LPG price was increased to R 858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from R 714 previously, according to a price notification of state- owned oil firms. This is the steepest hike in rates since January 2014 when prices had gone up by R 220 per cylinder to Rs 1,241. Domestic LPG users, who are entitled to buy 12 bottles of 14.2- kg each at subsidised rates in a year, will get more subsidy. The government subsidy payout to domestic users has been increased from R 153.86 per cylinder to R 291.48, industry officials said.
For Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana ( PMUY) beneficiaries, the subsidy has increased from R 174.86 to R 312.48 per cylinder. After accounting for the subsidy that is paid directly into the bank accounts of LPG users, a 14.2- kg cylinder would cost R 567.02 for domestic users and R 546.02 for PMUY users. The government gave out 8 crore free LPG connections to poor women under PMUY to increase coverage of environment- friendly fuel in kitchens. Agencies u2018 A cruel decision against pooru2019 The Opposition has come down heavily on the Centre for the price hike. BSP chief Mayawati termed it as a u201c cruel decisionu201d against the poor and the hard- working people. The TMC called the BJP u201c anti- people partyu201d. The CPI( M)u2019 s Sujan Chakraborty said, u201c They are trying to take revenge for the defeat in the Delhi assembly polls.u201d Congressu2019 Randeep Surjewala said, u201c They have struck the pockets of the public with currentu201d. LPG cylinder to cost ' 144.5 more now A Youth Congress worker protests against the price hike of LPG, in Kolkata on Wednesday. PIC/ PTI
