<p>An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister is likely to deliberate on the Oil Ministry's demand for a minimum Rs 4 a litre hike in diesel prices and a Rs 25 per cylinder increase in LPG rates to partly bridge the gulf between domestic prices and their international cost.<br /><br />"I think the EGoM meeting on diesel pricing will be called this week," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also a member of the ministerial panel, told reporters on the sidelines of an ICAR-CII event here.<br /><br />Asked if it was apt to hike diesel prices at a time of high inflation, Pawar said, "I can't react now as we have to assess the situation -- we have see whether petroleum companies are earning or losing. We have to see how recent happenings in Gulf countries have created problems for India."<br /><br />Inflation stood at 8.66 per cent in April.The EGoM was originally scheduled to meet on May 11, a day after polling in West Bengal ended, but the panel's meeting was postponed and no new dates have been intimated yet.<br /><br />Oil companies are losing Rs 18.19 on the sale of every litre of diesel at the current price of Rs 37.75 per litre in Delhi.<br /><br />In addition, state oil firms lose Rs 29.69 per litre of kerosene and Rs 329.73 per 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder.<br /><br />Recently, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had stated that the meeting of the EGoM on diesel pricing will be held this week.</p>
<p>An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister is likely to deliberate on the Oil Ministry's demand for a minimum Rs 4 a litre hike in diesel prices and a Rs 25 per cylinder increase in LPG rates to partly bridge the gulf between domestic prices and their international cost.<br /><br />"I think the EGoM meeting on diesel pricing will be called this week," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also a member of the ministerial panel, told reporters on the sidelines of an ICAR-CII event here.<br /><br />Asked if it was apt to hike diesel prices at a time of high inflation, Pawar said, "I can't react now as we have to assess the situation -- we have see whether petroleum companies are earning or losing. We have to see how recent happenings in Gulf countries have created problems for India."<br /><br />Inflation stood at 8.66 per cent in April.The EGoM was originally scheduled to meet on May 11, a day after polling in West Bengal ended, but the panel's meeting was postponed and no new dates have been intimated yet.<br /><br />Oil companies are losing Rs 18.19 on the sale of every litre of diesel at the current price of Rs 37.75 per litre in Delhi.<br /><br />In addition, state oil firms lose Rs 29.69 per litre of kerosene and Rs 329.73 per 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder.<br /><br />Recently, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had stated that the meeting of the EGoM on diesel pricing will be held this week.</p>