Manipur, Arunachal to raise LPG cap to nine

Manipur, Arunachal to raise LPG cap to nine

Imphal/Itanagar: As in other Congress-ruled states, Manipur and Arunachal Pradeshgovernments have decided to raise the cap on subsidized LPG cylinders from six to nine.

The Manipur government decided to raise the cap on LPG cylinders during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in the chair.

It followed a decision of the Congress high command instructing all Congress-ruled states to bear the burden of three additional cylinders and raise the cap on subsidized cylinders from six to nine per year for consumers. The Manipur cabinet also took various decisions to streamline and revamp the PDS system in the state.

The Arunachal Pradesh government too decided to provide three more LPG cylinders at subsidized rates to consumers in the state. This move shall benefit 1,88,627 LPG consumers in Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said on Friday. Subsidy amounting to Rs 360 (aprox) per LPG cylinder shall be granted and the total financial implication of this move for the state government shall be Rs 20.38 crore annually.

While declaring this relief to citizens of the state, chief minister Nabam Tuki reiterated the commitment of his government in the state as well as the UPA government at the Centre towards the welfare of the 'aam aadmi' and providing maximum relief to them, sources said.

Tuki also announced that his government has persuaded the IOC to launch the Rajiv GandhiLPG Vitrak Scheme to cover all the rural areas of the state. The scheme shall be a landmark one, providing LPG cylinders to the doorsteps of rural consumers as well as protecting the green cover in the state.

The IOC will start implementing the scheme soon, sources informed.

A cylinder costs about Rs 700 in the market without subsidy, which is what families will have to pay if they want LPG over and above the cap of six fixed by the Centre. However, consumers in the Congress-ruled states will be able to avail up to nine subsidized LPG cylinders per year instead of six.