Raise cap on LPG, says union minister

Seemingly supporting the opposition clamour over the LPG issue, a member of the government – minister for steel Beni Prasad Verma –said on Friday that the limit of six subsidised cooking gas cylinders a year per household should be raised to nine.

"The common man will face hardship with the quota of only six subsidised LPG cylinders in a year and the union government should therefore consider allowing at least nine cylinders in a calendar year," the minister told reporters in his home constituency of Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.

The minister said that without the subsidy, a standard cylinder of cooking gas would cost around Rs900, which would pinch the pocket of the common man.

The minister however supported the government's economic liberalisation measures, including allowing foreign direct investment in various sectors.