Govt for dual pricing of cooking gas

The government today said it favoured a dual pricing system for domestic cooking gas.

"There can be a system wherein Rs 150 subsidy per cylinder can be fixed and the overall price be floated in respect to international prices," Prithviraj Chavan, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office said on the sidelines of 'Petrotech 2007' summit.

"The present subsidy of 150 per cylinder should not be availed by the affluent class," he said, adding "the subsidy needs to be better targeted."

Chavan also suggested appointment of a regulator for fixing the prices of petroleum, petroleum products and subsidies so that the decision making does not become a political issue.