At a time when the beleaguered UPA government is marred with criticism for capping of LPG cylinders, Union Food Minister K V Thomas seems to have pitched in to provide some relief to public.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Thomas has batted for a “slab system”. In the letter, the minister urged the prime minister to charge only an extra of Rs 50 per LPG cylinder per household for purchase of seven to 12 cylinders. For 13 to 24, the customers should be charged Rs 150 per cylinder, it added.
“The decision to raise diesel price as well as to keep number of subsidised cooking gas at six a year, though essential for bettering economy, will not go well with middle class. In this connection, I would like to suggest a sort of slab system needs to be thought of,” he stated in his note that he sent to the prime minister after holding a meeting with officials of his ministry.
Published 18 September 2012, 20:23 IST