Government considering deregulating prices of petroleum products

01 Aug 2011 Evaluate

The government indicated that it will decontrol the prices of diesel and domestic cooking gas (LPG) in order to check its financial health. The finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on July 31 said that the government is keen to free prices of diesel and cooking gas in a bid to keep its finances under control. However, he said price of kerosene, which is used by the poor, may remain subsidized. The government has already deregulated prices of petrol.

Finance minister said, 'Petrol we have done (decontrolled). Diesel, kerosene and LPG we want to do it. (But) Kerosene we may have to provide some subsidy because people, who have no access to electricity, use kerosene as lighting.' Government is looking to link the domestic prices of petroleum products to international prices.

As of now, UPA government in its second inning had increased the prices of diesel by around Rs 10 per litre and around Rs 115 on every cylinder of LPG. However, the raised prices are still below the market prices by Rs 15 on every litre of diesel and Rs 280 on every cylinder of LPG. Government directly or indirectly compensates state owned oil marketing companies for losses on account of sale of diesel, kerosene and LPG through subsidies and oil bonds. In June while increasing the prices of diesel, kerosene and LGP, government had also removed the customs and excise duties on petroleum products and it had let go around Rs 49,000 crore in terms of revenue.

With reference to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani recommendation of transferring direct subsidies to poor, Finance Minister said 'The task force is looking into it. After the pilot projects being launched, they will come out with recommendations reviewing the pilot project outcomes”. UIAI had had suggested government to introduce pilot projects for direct transfer of subsidies in case of kerosene, cooking gas and fertilizer. 

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