NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to the well-heeled to come forward to give up their cooking gas subsidy so that the benefit can be passed on to welfare schemes.
"I had made a small mention about giving up LPG subsidy. As many as 2.8 lakh people have responded positively... And this will lead to a saving of at least Rs 100 crore. This Rs 100 crore can be utilised for the welfare of poor," Modi said at a function here.
The Prime Minister said the Union Government aims to extend piped natural gas (PNG) to one crore houses over the next five years.
Modi called for enhancing domestic production to reduce the energy import burden of the country by at least 10 per cent (from current 77 per cent dependence on energy imports), till 2022 — the occasion of the platinum jubilee of India's independence. "If we become successful in reducing import by 10 per cent in 2022, by achieving 10 per cent growth in domestic production, then I can assure you that by 2030 we can reduce this import to 50 per cent," Modi added.
India spent Rs 1,89,238 crore on import of crude oil in 2013-14. Currently, LPG is available at Rs 708.5 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Last year, government's subsidy bill on fuel was Rs 46,458 crore.
According to data, a total of 2,92,225 LPG customers have opted out of subsidy, saving Rs 175.31 crore for the government.
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