Increase in LPG cap: Moily says it's for oil PSUs to take call
business 03:25
Moily, who earlier this week took over as the Oil Minister, said there has been demands from within the Congress as well as from Opposition to raise the limit.
Also, states like Jammu and Kashmir and those in the North East have cited logistics problems in implementing the decision to limit the number of subsidised cylinders to six per household in a year, he said.
"They have gone by some arithmetic that on an average only six cylinders are enough (for a household). This is arithmetic, (but) there is also a chemistry, which they have not done," Moily told a news channel on Friday.
Stating that the government has deregulated many things, he said the decision to raise the cap rests with the oil companies.
"This (raising cap) is a matter the oil PSUs will have to consider... we have given a lot of liberty of oil companies, we (the oil ministry) do not want to take decision," he said.
"Of course," was his reply when asked if there were demands to raise the cap. "Our AICC spokesperson has said there should be an increase in the cap and many political parties have also said that."
"Some of the states like Jammu and Kashmir say logistics is a real problem for them. Putting a cap has put a lot of hardship. Many of North Eastern State Chief Ministers have also raised (the issue)," he said.
The Cabinet had in September decided to restrict supply of subsidised cooking gas to 6 cylinders of 14.2-kg per household in a year.
The companies were asked to sell any requirement beyond six at market price which is more than twice the subsidised rate.
On the decision to first raise price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder by Rs 26.50 and then within hours putting it on hold on Thursday, Moily said the decision was taken by oil companies and it was not my decision or a decision of my ministry.
The decision was put on hold due to administrative problems which Moily said he would look into upon return to New Delhi.
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