An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to consider on Friday limiting supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to 4-6 per household in a year.
The EGoM in its last meeting on August 8 considered the recommendations of Task Force on Direct Transfer of Subsidies on Kerosene, LPG and Fertiliser but deferred a decision on limiting supply of subsidised LPG, official sources said.
The panel is now slated to meet on September 16.
Sources said if approved every household will get only 4-6 LPG cylinders at subsidised price of Rs 395.35 in Delhi and they will have to pay market price of Rs 666 per cylinder for any requirement beyond that.
The limited supply of subsidised LPG would be for those who own a car, two-wheeler, house or figure in the income-tax list.
Each 14.2-kg bottle of LPG normally lasts a household 45-60 days and based on this calculation a maximum of six cylinders are considered enough to see a family through the year.
At present, records of LPG distributors of public sector companies shows that a vast number of households are taking as many as 20 to 30 cylinders per household each year.
This suggests that large scale diversion of subsidised cooking gas is taking place for use in commercial establishments, such as restaurants and dhabas and as auto fuel.
LPG for commercial use is sold at the market price and packed in different cylinders.
Sources said limiting supply of subsidised LPG cylinders would help cut down losses that state-owned oil firms incur now on selling the fuel at government controlled rates.
Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum lose about Rs 63 crore per day on selling domestic LPG below cost.
The EGoM may also consider the revenue loss that state firms incur on selling not just LPG but also diesel and kerosene.
The three firms lose Rs 5.14 a litre on diesel and Rs 24.42 per like on kerosene. At current rate, they are projected to post a combined revenue loss of Rs 108,746 crore in the current fiscal.
The EGoM, sources said, may decide on how this loss would be bridged. The government currently roughly half the revenue loss and another one-third comes from upstream firms like ONGC.
The panel may decide if the current revenue loss sharing formula should continue or be altered.
