Govt unlikely to accept Chaturvedi panel report in toto
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday said not all of the B K Chaturvedi Committee recommendations were implementable.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: In clear indications that the government may dump suggestions of a monthly fuel price hike, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday said not all of the B K Chaturvedi Committee recommendations were implementable.
"I am told some recommendations of the Committee can be implemented (while some others) could be difficult to implement," Deora told reporters here.
The high-powered BK Chaturvedi Committee has recommended raising prices of petrol by Rs 2.50 a litre per month till March 2009 and those of diesel by Rs 0.75 per litre till 2010 to eliminate subsidies on the two fuels.
It has also suggested temporary duty changes and the method of calculating retail selling price of fuel.
"Next Tuesday (August 19), I have called a meeting of oil PSU chiefs to discuss threadbare the recommendations," Deora said.
The three-member panel, headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi that was asked by the Prime Minister to go into the financial position of oil firms, has also proposed levying a 'Metro Extra' tax of Rs 2 per litre on diesel in four instalments in large cities where the fuel was being used in expensive cars.
"I had some discussions on the recommendations yesterday, but we need to do a thorough analysis before we arrive at any decision," Deora said. "The recommendations are being studied and are under consideration of the government."
While the government may reject a call for monthly hike in fuel prices, it may accept suggestions for pricing domestic fuel at export parity rates.
The panel sought to lower the benchmark used for domestic retail pricing by 10-15 per cent by shifting away from the current principle of trade parity pricing.
"I am told some recommendations of the Committee can be implemented (while some others) could be difficult to implement," Deora told reporters here.
The high-powered BK Chaturvedi Committee has recommended raising prices of petrol by Rs 2.50 a litre per month till March 2009 and those of diesel by Rs 0.75 per litre till 2010 to eliminate subsidies on the two fuels.
It has also suggested temporary duty changes and the method of calculating retail selling price of fuel.
"Next Tuesday (August 19), I have called a meeting of oil PSU chiefs to discuss threadbare the recommendations," Deora said.
The three-member panel, headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi that was asked by the Prime Minister to go into the financial position of oil firms, has also proposed levying a 'Metro Extra' tax of Rs 2 per litre on diesel in four instalments in large cities where the fuel was being used in expensive cars.
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"I had some discussions on the recommendations yesterday, but we need to do a thorough analysis before we arrive at any decision," Deora said. "The recommendations are being studied and are under consideration of the government."
While the government may reject a call for monthly hike in fuel prices, it may accept suggestions for pricing domestic fuel at export parity rates.
The panel sought to lower the benchmark used for domestic retail pricing by 10-15 per cent by shifting away from the current principle of trade parity pricing.
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