Rejecting criticism of the price rise, Dikshit said people's wages have gone up significantly and they will have to learn to live with such hikes which are determined by market forces.
"The Central government had to take the decision in compulsion. The wages of people have increased. The minimum wages have also been hiked. We must understand that this is the 21st century and a lot many decisions will be dependent on market forces," Dikshit said reacting to the steep hike of Rs 5.62 per litre in diesel price.
Asked whether the Delhi government may consider cutting VAT on diesel to provide some relief, Dikshit said government may think over it.
"As on today, people get diesel cheapest in Delhi. If we can do something, we will do," she said.
Diesel price have gone up to Rs 46.95 per litre in Delhi from Rs 41.32.
On the Centre's decision to restrict supply of subsidised cooking gas to six cylinders per household in a year, Dikshit said it was a necessary step.
"It was necessary to make this decision. We have to stand by it. There is a need for balancing. For any average family, six cylinders are enough," she said.
The Centre yesterday decided that each household will get 6 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.
Asked how BPL families will be able to buy LPG cylinders costing Rs 746 at a time when the city government has launched a scheme to make Delhi kerosene-free by giving free gas stoves and cylinder, Dikshit said people for whom the scheme was meant for will not require more than six cylinders in a year.
Under the scheme, each of over 3.5 lakh BPL and poor families will get a free LPG cylinder, gas stove and accessories like regulator and pipe. Such connections will cost the government Rs 3,049 for each household.
