TN CM announces Rs 30 cut in cooking gas

Cuddalore, Jun 15 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced a Rs 30 cut in cooking gas price to 50 lakh families in the in state.

Winding up the first state level conference of the DMK women wing, he said the state would compensate the reduction of Rs 30 to oil companies.

The reduced price would be applicable to 50 lakh families, which had oly one gas cylinder, he said, adding, it would cost Rs 100 crore a year.

Mr Karunanidhi said the state government had already reduced two per cent sales tax on diesel after the Centre hiked the fuel price.

The Centre had increased cooking gas price by Rs 50 and the state government reduced it by Rs 30, which would bring a great relief for the poor families, he said.

Referring to the price rice issue, the Chief Minister said only in Tamil Nadu, 1.80 lakh families were given rice at Rs two per kg.

The DMK government also provided 59.55 lakh colour TV sets free of cost to the poor people for the last year.

The government has distributed free stove with gas connection to 11 lakh families and proposed to cover over eight lakh houses under the scheme.

He said the women Self Help Groups, which was started during the DMK's earlier regime in 1989, had grown to 57.64 lakh SHGs now.

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