he state government is in a dilemma over subsidising further the price of LPG cylinders, the price of which was recently hiked by Rs 35.
Though the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, is keen on providing some relief to consumers, the quantum of relief is not decided. The government already subsidises each cylinder by Rs 25.
In discussions with the CM, officials laid out the figures. The state had been paying Rs 16 crore every month towards the previous subsidy of Rs 25 on each cylinder. Mr Rosaiah decided to discuss the issue threadbare in the cabinet meet scheduled for July 1.
The government had earlier considered waiving Value Added Tax on the increased price of diesel.
Sources said the officials told the Chief Minister that the net benefit to the customer would be 40 paise on each litre but the revenue loss to the state could be Rs 350 crore per year.
“While individual customers will not feel any benefit and acknowledge the government gesture, the state will lose heavily,” a senior minister pointed out.
The Chief Minister also heard the recommendations of members of the Group of Ministers on fee reimbursement to tighten the scheme. The suggestions included requiring 75 per cent attendance and passing every year in order to qualify, and withdrawal of the facility for students whose family income crosses Rs 1 lakh and who possess a car.
Showing posts with label Dilemma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dilemma. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Congress in a bind over strategy for bypolls in T
Just when the Congress had heaved a sigh of relief at averting the possible rebellion of the Kadapa MP, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, it finds itself in a dilemma over what strategy to adopt on Telangana in the forthcoming by-elections in the region.
The Karimnagar MP, Mr Ponnam Prabhakar, and the Zahirabad MP, Mr Suresh Shetkar, called on the law minister and in-charge of AP affairs, Mr Veerappa Moily, and demanded that the party should not go against popular sentiment in Telangana.
They want the party to clearly state during the poll campaign that the Congress is in favour of a separate Telangana state.
This view is firmly opposed by Congress politicians whose constituencies are in the other two regions. It is pertinent to note that the government whip in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Dr S. Sailajanath, called on Mr Moily and urged him to ensure that the party uses the slogan of development and other welfare schemes during the election campaign and does not commit to anything on Telangana.
Mr Prabhakar wants the party to expose the Telugu Desam and the BJP for not conceding to the demand for a separate state when they were in power, even though they were instrumental in the creation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
The MPs want the party to highlight its contribution to Telangana: the announcement by the Union home minister on December 9 and also the appointment of the Srikrishna committee.
The Karimnagar MP, Mr Ponnam Prabhakar, and the Zahirabad MP, Mr Suresh Shetkar, called on the law minister and in-charge of AP affairs, Mr Veerappa Moily, and demanded that the party should not go against popular sentiment in Telangana.
They want the party to clearly state during the poll campaign that the Congress is in favour of a separate Telangana state.
This view is firmly opposed by Congress politicians whose constituencies are in the other two regions. It is pertinent to note that the government whip in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Dr S. Sailajanath, called on Mr Moily and urged him to ensure that the party uses the slogan of development and other welfare schemes during the election campaign and does not commit to anything on Telangana.
Mr Prabhakar wants the party to expose the Telugu Desam and the BJP for not conceding to the demand for a separate state when they were in power, even though they were instrumental in the creation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
The MPs want the party to highlight its contribution to Telangana: the announcement by the Union home minister on December 9 and also the appointment of the Srikrishna committee.
