According to the administration, the recent increase in fuel rates has translated into an extra load of less than a rupee on LPG and 50 paisa on kerosene daily as an united opposition stalled parliament proceedings over the growing food inflation.

In a declaration, Lok Sabha Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora stated that the major aim behind the June 26 increase in prices of petroleum products was the require to lessen the subsidy burden on oil marketing firms and thus allot additional funds to social segment plans in the regions of health, education as well as food security.

While taking the decision, Deora said, "The government was quite conscious of the burdens on the common man. Only the bare minimal burden has been passed on to the consumers."

"The increase in price of domestic LPG by Rs. 35 per cylinder is likely to increase the daily expendituire (of a household) by less than Rs. 1. Similarly, the increase in price of kerosene by Rs. 3 per litre is expected to increase the daily expenditure for an average rural household only by less than 50 paise," Deora said.

Blaming the state administrations for elevated taxation rates on petro products, he stated that the sales tax on petrol & diesel is as high as 33 and 24.7% respectively.

"Some of the state governments are levying sales tax as high as 12.5 percent on kerosene," he said. (With Inputs from Agencies)