All houselhold in Delhi may get 9 subsidised LPG cylinders

All household in Delhi may get nine subsidised LPG cylinders in the city annually instead of six with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tonight hinting at extending the relief in line with a Congress directive.

"We have already decided to give three extra cylinders to poor families. If party asks us to extend it to everybody, then definitely we may consider it," Dikshit told PTI.

The Chief Minister, however, said she was personally opposed to extending the benefit to "affluent section" and to restaurants and hotels.

She was asked about AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi's comment that all Congress-ruled states have been asked to raise the number of subsidised cylinders from the proposed six to nine for each household in a year.

Dikshit said she has not received any communication from the AICC on giving three subsidised cylinders to all families.

"Why should we provide the benefit to affluent section and to hotels and restaurants," she said.

The city government had on Monday announced giving three extra subsidised cylinders to around 3.56 lakh economically weaker families.

The Chief Minister said she sent a detailed note to AICC explaining her government's decision to provide three extra subsidised LPG cylinders to all families covered under BPL, Antyodaya Anna Yojna and Jhuggi Ration Card scheme.

"I have sent a detailed note to the AICC elaborating on our decision to provide three extra cylinders to all beneficiaries of the 'Kerosene Free Dilli' scheme," she said.

Earlier, Dwivedi said Congress-ruled states have been asked to raise the number of subsidised cylinders from the proposed six to nine for each household in a year.

"The party has decided that our Chief Ministers in the Congress ruled states will provide nine subsidised cylinders annually to each household," he said.

The step comes after the Trinamool Congress withdrew support to the UPA government demanding total withdrawal of the decision on FDI in multibrand retail, raising the cap on subsidised LPG from six to 12 cylinders and reduction of diesel hike from Rs 5 by Rs 3 or Rs 4 for reconsideration of her decision.

The Centre last week had decided that each household will get six cylinders of 14.2-kg per annum at the subsidised rate of Rs 399 and any requirement beyond that would have to be procured at the market rate of Rs 746 per bottle.