No proposal to raise diesel prices: S Jaipal Reddy

New oil minister S Jaipal Reddy today ruled out any increase in diesel prices, even though oil companies are losing Rs7 per litre on sales of the transport fuel.

There is no proposal on the anvil for an increase in prices of diesel, Reddy told reporters after taking charge of the new ministry.

Asked about deregulation of diesel prices, which Cabinet had said in June, 2010, would take place in due course, Reddy said, "I don't think anybody can take such long-term decisions."

He, however, indicated that there will be no rollback of the increased petrol prices, raised seven times since its deregulation in June, 2010.

The newly appointed minister said the three state-owned fuel retailers are expected to lose Rs72,000 crore in revenue this fiscal on account of subsidised fuel sales and his ministry will press for a reduction in customs on crude oil and excise duty on diesel, as was proposed by his predecessor, Murli Deora.

Reddy, who moved from urban development to the oil ministry, got down to tackling the task straightaway with a brainstorming session with senior ministry officials today.

"This is not a new government... I am a new minister in the old government. I am morally and politically accountable for all the policies and decisions of my predecessor. They were collective decisions of the Cabinet," he said last evening.

With rumours doing the rounds that the Congress party brass was not happy with Deora and his junior Jitin Prasada over last week's Rs2.50 per litre hike in petrol prices, Reddy said spiralling international oil prices "was a challenge."

Despite last week's price raise, oil firms lose Rs1.22 a litre on petrol. Besides, they lose Rs7 a litre on diesel, Rs366.28 on LPG and Rs19.60 a litre on kerosene.

The Congress heavyweight said decisions on such issues would be taken at the Cabinet-level.