9 LPG gas cylinders for domestic consumers at subsidised rates .....

The red cylinder for sure is the most sought after commodity by the commoners….  As you would know, the domestic LPG that we use is highly subsidized by the Government and are distributed only by public sector Oil marketing companies. LPG for domestic cooking  regularly comes in 14.2Kg capacity.

Not many of you might instantly be able to tell the rates :  The subsidized cylinder is made available to you @ Rs.386.50/- ; the official price, you might end up paying up at least Rs.410/- depending upon the floor and area where it is delivered. The non-subsidised one is priced at Rs.754.50/- 

Sometime back, the Govt brought in a move to limit the supply of subsidized cylinders – putting the ceiling at 6. In Sept. 2012, the Government  announced restriction of the supply of subsidised cooking gas to 6 cylinders per household in a year to fetch an additional Rs 20,300 crore.   From the midnight of 13/14 September 2012, it was to be  6cylinders (of 14.2 Kg) per annum.  Under that each household LPG connection was eligible for 3 subsidized LPG cylinders between 14.09.2012 till 31.03.2013 and 6 cylinders from the next financial year.  Once you exhaust your entitlement, the supplies were to be at non-subsidized prices. 

Good news for the consumers…..  The government today raised the cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to nine bottles from six per year and allowed oil companies to hike diesel prices by a "small quantum" periodically. There will be no change in LPG and kerosene rates, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily told reporters today [17th Jan 2013] after the meeting on Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).

Going by the reports, Consumers will get a quota of five subsidised cylinders between September 2012 and March 2013 and from April 1, 2013, they will be entitled to nine cylinders per annum.

Moily further said that the oil companies have been permitted to raise diesel prices by a small quantum periodically till such time that they are able to cover Rs 9.60 per litre loss they incur on the fuel. The rise in diesel price might take place as early as tonight.

With regards – S. Sampahtkumar

17th Jan 2013.