subsidized cylinders

The oil marketing companies have announced a hike of Rs 4 across categories of LPG cylinders (subsidized, non-subsidized and exempted).

Patna's culinary scene is facing a significant challenge as a shortage of LPG puts a squeeze on popular items like samosas and biryani. Eateries are adapting by experimenting with alternative fuels and opting for quicker-cooking dishes. However, many vendors are encountering technical difficulties, and customers are not responding favorably to the changes.

The government on Thursday said it will "look into" a demand to raise the quota of subsidized LPG cylinders to 12 per household in a year from the current limit of nine.

With the cabinet committee on political affairs raising the LPG subsidy cap to nine cylinders per household from six, each household will now be able to avail of two additional subsidized cylinders till March.

Providing respite to domestic LPG consumers in the state, the government had announced to give three more subsidized cylinders over and above the six-cylinder cap placed by the Central government.

With the cap on subsidized cylinders coming into effect, religious institutions like the Ayyappa temple at Anant Nagar will have to shell out more for its cooking activities.

The increase in prices of gas cylinders on the first day of the New Year has come as a rude shock for many. While the hike in prices of subsidized cylinders is marginal, non-subsidized cylinders will now cost substantially more and affect the common man's budget.

To provide respite to domestic LPG consumers in the state, the Ashok Gehlot government had announced to give three more subsidized cylinders over and above the six-cylinder cap placed by the Union government.

The state government on Wednesday deferred a decision on raising the cap on subsidized cooking gas cylinders.

Amid public scare of a cooking gas shortage ahead of the festive season, state-run fuel retailers on Saturday launched a mass contact programme to say there is no ban on new connection and consumers would get at least three subsidized cylinders in the remaining part of the current fiscal, or March 31, 2013.

Domestic cooking gas cylinders beyond the subsidized quota of six are reaching city homes quicker, raising suspicion that oil companies here are pushing more for non-subsidized cylinders.

During April-May 2013, cooking gas consumption in India fell to 2.4 million tonnes from 2.5 million tonnes in April-May 2012, a fall of 3.3%, according to provisional data from the three state-owned oil marketing companies.

State-run fuel retailers reduced the price of non-subsidized domestic cooking gas cylinders by Rs 54 each on Tuesday.

State-owned oil companies have hiked price of non-subsidized cooking gas by Rs 127 per cylinder to Rs 883.5 on account of increase in international oil prices.

LPG consumers and distributors are confused. They don't know if a subsidized refill booked on or before March 31 this year, but delivered in April, will be a part of the five subsidized cylinders meant for September 2012-March 2013 period or the quota of nine meant for next year.

Residents of the 280-odd housing societies in the city using piped LPG or the reticulated system can now heave a sigh of relief.

Residents of the 280-odd housing societies in the city using piped LPG or the reticulated system can now heave a sigh of relief.

In good news for BPL cardholders and other marginalized sections, the Delhi government decided on Monday to increase the number of subsidized LPG cylinder for them from nine to 12.

The sale of commercial cylinders has been dropping consistently in the last few months with oil companies attributing the fall to black marketing of non-subsidized cylinders.

While the demand for subsidized domestic LPG cylinders had decreased after a ceiling on cylinders available to households was imposed by the ministry of petroleum, the demand for cylinders at commercial rates has increased by nearly 50% with commercial establishments being forced to buy non-subsidized LPG.

In a relief to consumers, the home minister P Chidambaram on Friday announced abolishment the import and excise duties on non-subsidized domestic LPG cylinders, bringing down their price by Rs 97 a unit in Delhi. It also asked states to subsidize LPG cylinders.

The city is facing shortage of LPG cylinders again.

The price hike of `26.50 in the prices of non-subsidized LPG cylinders, which the consumers buy after the subsidized quota of six cylinders per year, from November 1 onward has left city residents dejected.