New Delhi: State-run fuel retailers on Tuesday raised the price of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 105 to Rs 2,012 but left the 14.2 kg refill rates unchanged for households under a government decree. This is the highest price of commercial cylinders used by eateries, caterers and hotels since December.
The price of non-subsidised 5 kg refill, called ‘chotua’ or small, was also raised to Rs 569. The government had launched the refill with much fanfare and said that it is for the convenience of migrants, professionals and students.
The government that controls the price of LPG has stopped giving subsidy on domestic refills used by general category consumers.
The government has not allowed hike in cooking gas prices since October. This is similar to petrol and diesel prices, which have been left unchanged by state-run retailers under an unofficial government order since November, even though crude oil prices have gone below the ceiling.
The stagnation in prices amid sharp rise in benchmark rates, formal or informal, during elections in key states is guided by the political sharpness of not giving the opposition a handle against the government. This means that the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas for households will go up after voting ends on March 7, except when the government reinstates subsidies on cooking fuel.
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