For the second time the Modi-led Government has shied away from taking a decision on the new price of domestically produced natural gas. The decision has been deferred to November 15.
Earlier, the Government had deferred the decision by three months on the grounds that it had just come to power and the subject needed more discussion. This time, the Government did not give any official reason barring the one given by Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said: “Life doesn’t revolve around gas price.” .
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs took up the issue on Wednesday but did not take a decision. According to sources, since the price increase will have direct implications on electricity tariffs and the gas used for cooking (piped natural gas) and auto fuel (compressed natural gas), the Government did not want to take any risks with State elections coming up. Besides, there were certain unresolved issues pertaining to the fertiliser and power sectors, and how the KG-D6 pricing will be worked out.