Date:04/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/04/stories/2008020450881700.htm

Back Centre asks Maharashtra to check illegal use of LPG

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Feb 3 The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Mr Murli Deora has urged upon the Maharashtra Government to intensify the inspections of commercial establishments for illegal use of subsidized domestic LPG cylinders.

Alarmed by the diversion of the highly subsidized cylinders for commercial and automobile use, Mr Deora held the meeting with State Government and senior oil industry officers on Saturday. Measures to arrest the diversions were reviewed during the meeting. For the fiscal 2007-08 the subsidy burden is approximately Rs 80,000 crore of which Rs 25,000 crore is the subsidy on LPG. Mr Deora also met the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh and discussed the problems of diversion and sought help of the State Government in curbing the menace.

He also appealed to the LPG Distributors Federation to co-operate in helping the Government in curbing the diversion of the cylinders.