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No LPG price hike or refill reduction, assures Pradhan

The price of domestic LPG cylinders will not be increased and the number of subsidised refills given to consumers would continue, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday.

'LPG will be provided to the consumers at the same rate at which it is being made available now. No additional burden will be imposed on them. The subsidy and the number of subsidised cylinders that people are getting will be continued by our government,' Pradhan told reporters here.
About petrol and diesel prices, he said these are big issues and the central government is paying attention to them.
'Petrol prices have been out of control since 2006 when it was connected to the market price mechanism. Diesel prices are still under control with subsidies. There is a need to increase oil and gas production in the country. The policy should be such that neither the government nor the farmers and poor should feel burdened,' the minister said.

Pradhan, who was scheduled to take stock of the oil and gas situation in Bihar at a meeting with Indian Oil Corporation officials during the day, expressed concerns over the low LPG penetration in the state, which is 26 per cent as compared to 45-50 per cent in others.
At the meeting, the condition of Barauni refinery in Bihar would be reviewed, besides the status of the proposed gas pipeline between Haldia to Jagdishpur.

Low LPG penetration will also be reviewed, he added. Barauni refinery is the first one established in India after Independence and it is an important industrial centre in Bihar. My ministry has decided to expand its refining capacity and also develop a petroleum complex at the location,’ said Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after the felicitation ceremony organised by the state BJP for Union ministers.
Pradhan said that over 2,000 petroleum and gas distribution centres will be established in Bihar in the next one year. This will provide employment to 13,000 people. So far around 40,000 people are working at petrol pumps and gas agencies in the state. The minister also said that the Central government intends to increase LPG penetration in the state and take it to the national average in next five years.
‘In this context, we will release 10 lakh LPG connections for Bihar this year. In five year we intend to change the stoves of a majority of households in the state,’ he added.

Pradhan also talked about 2000 km long gas pipeline, clarifying that the pipeline originating at Haldia in West Bengal will go to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh and not in Bihar.

‘It is Rs 8,000 crore project and over 600 km of this pipeline will be in Bihar, involving 16 districts of the state. It will supply gas to government fertiliser factories at Barauni and Jagdishpur,’ said Pradhan.He also said Bankipore MLA Nitin Navin has discussed a proposal of piped cooking gas supply to Patna households and the Petroleum Ministry
will take it forward.
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