PM hints at hiking fuel and power tariff in a phased manner

28 Dec 2012 Evaluate

Inaugurating the 57th meeting of National Development Council (NDC), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hinted at tough decisions such as raising energy prices and cut in subsidies to achieve the 8 per cent growth target in the 12th Five-Year Plan. The NDC, which comprises Cabinet Ministers and state Chief Ministers, meeting was held to approve the 12th Plan (2012-17) document.

The Planning Commission for the second time proposed reduction in the average annual growth target for the 12th Plan from 9 per cent to 8.2 per cent and now to 8 per cent. According to Singh, “Coal, petroleum products and natural gas are all priced below international prices and also electricity is effectively underpriced, especially for some consumers; immediate adjustment of prices to close the gap is not feasible, but some phased price adjustment is necessary. Further, PM added that Central Government and the States must work together to create awareness in the public that we must limit the extent of energy subsidies.

Talking about overall subsidies, the Prime Minister said that some subsidies are a normal part of any socially just system, but subsidies should be well designed and effectively targeted and the total volume must be kept within limit of fiscal sustainability. However, limiting subsidies is one of the efforts to make available resources for more productive usages. Explaining this, Singh focused on generating revenues to finance programmes of inclusiveness.

Singh added that there is also a need to bring down the demand of petroleum products as country is a net importer of this critical energy resource. India imports over 75 per cent of its crude oil requirement.

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