Cooking gas price hiked by Rs 11.42; petrol, diesel rates may go up

NEW DELHI, OCT 6: 

Cooking gas (LPG) price has been hiked by Rs 11.42 per cylinder following the Government's decision to raise the commission paid to dealers.

Petrol and diesel prices too may go up marginally as the Oil Ministry considers raising dealers' commission by at least 23 paisa and 10 paisa a litre, respectively.

The Ministry had yesterday issued orders raising the commission paid to LPG dealers from Rs 25.83 per 14.2-kg cylinder to Rs 37.25, Government officials said.

The 44 per cent or Rs 11.42 per cylinder increase in the commission on subsidised cooking fuel is being passed on to consumers, they said.

Subsidised LPG in Delhi will now cost Rs 410.42 per cylinder, up from Rs 399.

The hike comes within weeks of the Government deciding to restrict the supply of subsidised cooking gas to six cylinders of 14.2-kg size per household in a year. The remaining supplies would have to be sourced at market rates.

Officials said the commission paid on market price or non-subsidised LPG too has been raised by Rs 12.17 to Rs 38 per cylinder. Accordingly, a non-subsidised LPG cylinder price will go up from Rs 883.5 to Rs 921.50.

A similar exercise is on to raise the commission paid to petrol pump dealers on the sale of petrol and diesel. The Ministry is proposing to raise the commission paid on petrol by 23 paisa to 1.72 and that on diesel by 10 paisa to Rs 1.01 a litre.

The hike being considered for petrol and diesel is less than 67 paisa and 42 paisa, respectively being demanded by petrol pump dealers in view of their working capital cost going up substantially due to frequent price changes and a sharp rise in overheads like electricity charges.