NEW DELHI, Dec 13:
Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily today hinted that an expert panel call for a Rs 5 a litre hike in diesel and Rs 250 increase in LPG rates will be diluted, saying that a balanced view keeping consumer interest in mind would be taken.
The Government-appointed Kirit Parikh committee suggested “immediately” hiking prices of diesel by Rs 5 a litre, Rs 4 per litre in kerosene and Rs 250 per cylinder in LPG, reducing annual entitlement of subsidised cooking gas cylinder to six from nine and phasing out diesel subsidy in one year to cut a record subsidy burden.
“Economically that is the right decision but how practical is it, how we can apply (it), that is something we have to take a view on it,” Moily told reporters here.
The Minister said the suggestions given by the Committee are “very good” as they will help restore fiscal balance.
“If the country has to go forward, reform is a must. But the question is whether we can implement what has been recommended because we have to balance between the consumer (interest) and Government revenue. A balance view will be taken on the report,” he said.
Diesel is currently sold at Rs 9.9 a litre loss. It could take over one-and-half years to wipe out the Rs 9.9 a litre loss at the current rate of raising diesel price every month by 50 paise per litre.
Moily said the 50 paise a litre hike will continue irrespective of the drubbing that Congress faced in the Assembly elections. (PTI)
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