LPG prices likely to drop next month, says Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel is on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. The minister will also visit the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) located in Durg district of the state and hold meetings with steel plant officials.

Updated on: Feb 20, 2020, 21:40:27 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said LPG prices may come down next month.

The price of LPG was increased to ₹858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from ₹714 previously, according to a price notification of state-owned oil firms. (FILE PHOTO.)

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel is on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. The minister will also visit the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) located in Durg district of the state and hold meetings with steel plant officials.

The minister while replying to a query from the media at the Raipur airport said, “It is not true that the price of LPG cylinders is constantly increasing. This month, it was hiked due to the international market. However, there are indications that the prices may come down next month.”

Pradhan further said that during winters, LPG consumption increases, which creates pressure on the sector.

“This month, the price increased while next month it will reduce,” he said.

Cooking gas LPG price increased by ₹144.50 per cylinder on February 10. To insulate domestic users, the government almost doubled the subsidy it provides on the fuel to keep per cylinder outgo almost unchanged.

The price of LPG was increased to ₹858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from ₹714 previously, according to a price notification of state-owned oil firms.

This was the steepest hike in rates since January 2014, when prices had gone up by ₹220 per cylinder to ₹1,241.Domestic LPG users, who are entitled to buy 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidized rates in a year, will get more subsidy.

Reacting to the minister’s statement, state Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said, “The BJP is misleading people as they have misled them earlier...the Congress demands that the hike in LPG prices should be taken back immediately by the BJP government. Each and every common man is suffering due to the price hike.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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