Thursday, December 8 2005 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre today (Dec 8, 2005) informed the Lok Sabha that it has sought the opinion of states to restrict the subsidy on cooking gas to people living below the poverty line.

"The Ministry has recently written to the state Government seeking views on restricting the subsidy on domestic LPG to only BPL families," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said replying to a query by SP member Jayaprada and Munawar Hassan.

He pointed the subsidy burden last year was Rs 9,830 crore.

"The Centre was also examining the proposals given by ONGC and GAIL on marketing of LPG produced by their fractionators subject to certain terms and conditions," he said.

The Minister clarified that part of the subsidy on LPG was borne by the Government and part by the oil companies.