Cabinet nod for fuel, freight subsidy extension till fiscal-end

New Delhi, March 4: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved extending the public distribution (PDS) kerosene and cooking gas (LPG) subsidy scheme and the freight subsidy for far-flung areas scheme, both originating from 2002, upto March 31, 2015.

The approval will help in reducing the under-recovery, or losses, of state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), a CCEA statement said.

"The Government was providing a subsidy of Rs.22.58 per 14.2 kg. LPG cylinder and Rs.0.82 per litre on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002. Besides, freight subsidy was also being provided to PDS kerosene and domestic LPG consumers in far-flung areas. These two schemes ended on 31st March, 2014," the statement said.

IANS