Citing non-allocation of cheaper natural gas from the Centre, GSPC Gas Company (GGC) today said it has hiked CNG prices by Rs 2 per kg, and of piped cooking gas by Rs 4 per standard cubic metre for first 30 SCM.
For heavy users, the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) will cost Rs 40 per standard cubic metre, beyond 40 PSCM.
The hike comes into effect from June 19.
GGC, a subsidiary of state-owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), has raised CNG prices from Rs 60.15 per kg to Rs 62.15 per kg, while piped cooking gas prices go up from Rs 21.50 to Rs 25.50 (up to first 30 SCM) per standard cubic metre (PSCM), a company statement said.
"From 31 to 40 SCM consumption of PNG the price will be Rs 34.10 per SCM, and thereafter Rs 40 PSCM," it said.
"In spite of several representations made by the state (Gujarat) government and repeated requests by GSPC Gas Company Ltd, there has been no allocation of any cheaper domestic gas by the Central government," the official statement said.
On the petition of NGO Dhrangadhra Prakruti Mandal (DPM), the Gujarat High Court in July 2012 had directed the Centre to allocate CNG to Ahmedabad city at the same price as it supplies to Delhi and Mumbai under the Administered Price Mechanism (APM).
The company operates with a network of around 119 CNG stations in Gujarat. It supplies domestic cooking gas to around 3.9 lakh consumers in the state. The Gujarat government levies 15 per cent VAT on natural gas.
GGC supplies gas to industry that is based largely in South Gujarat region comprising Valsad, Vapi, Umbergaon, Hazira and Halol. It also supplies gas in Gandhinagar, Nadiad, Morbi, Thangadh, Sunredranagar and Rajkot, the official said.
