Cooking gas LPG price was hiked by Rs 25 per cylinder across all categories, including subsidised fuel and those availed by Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries – the fourth increase in rates in a month’s time.
LPG prices have gone up by Rs 125 per 14.2-kg cylinder since the beginning of February, price data from state-owned oil marketing companies showed. The increase is applicable across all categories, including subsidised and non-subsidised users.
LPG is available only at one rate, market price, across the country. The government, however, gives a small subsidy to select customers. However, this subsidy has been eliminated in metros and major cities through successive price increases over the past couple of years.
LPG prices were hiked first by Rs 25 per cylinder on 4 February, followed by a Rs 50 per cylinder increase on 15 February and Rs 25 raise on 25 February. Prices have been on the rise since December and rates have cumulatively gone up by Rs 175 per cylinder.
Union Petroleum, Oil and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has suggested that LPG prices have increased due to intense coldand that a recent ice storm in the US had been one of the reasons why there has been a spike in the price of diesel and petrol in recent days. But the Opposition remains unconvinced. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who had repeatedly hit out at the government over the rising prices took to Twitter once again to lambast the Narendra Modi-led Central government. It should be ensured that general public are not affected by fuel and LPG prices.