January 07, 2002
'20'
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PRICES EQUALIZED IN LADAKH, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR AND LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDSThe Government has decided to equalize the prices of Petroleum Products sold in Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas took this decision in view of wide variations in the prices of petroleum products, LPG, petrol and diesel, supplied to different areas of these regions due to the higher freight costs for effecting supplies to the extension counters and remote retail outlets. The freight costs would now be borne by the Oil Pool Account.
This issue was highlighted before Shri Ram Naik during his visit to Leh when he inaugurated LPG Bottling Plant and Oil Depot of IOC. It was brought to the notice of the Minister that there was a vast discrepancy in the prices of LPG cylinders between Leh and the far flung areas in Zanskar and Nubra Valley. While LPG cylinder costs Rs. 214/- in Leh, transportation cost of upto Rs. 70/- per cylinder is added when the cylinder is sold to consumers in the village Padam and other far-off areas. The decision would bring much needed relief to the people inhabiting the far flung areas of Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.