Media reports indicate that some section of the ruling Congress party want the government to raise the cap on the number of subsidised cooking gas per household per year.
Recently, the government decided to limit the number of subsidised cooking gas per household per year to six and this has reportedly increased hardships for common man.
Some section of the party want the cap to be raised to 12 cylinders per household in a year. Even the new Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily had earlier this month admitted that the decision, taken during term of his predecessor S Jaipal Reddy, had caused hardships.
Meanwhile, speaking to a leading media agency, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said it was for the oil ministry to bring a proposal for raising the cap if it feels so.
Consumers have to pay a rate which is more than double the subsidised price of Rs 410.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder for any requirement beyond their quota of six cylinders in a year.
Chidambaram feels that the oil ministry must consider fiscal position of the government before moving any note. This is because, the government stares at the prospect of having to pay Rs 80,000-100,000 crore towards fuel subsidies this fiscal and raising the cap would mean additional outgo.
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