Petro products, power, coal underpriced; need to hike rates:PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made a strong case for “phased” hike in prices of petroleum products, coal and power as they are “underpriced” warning that failure to control subsidies would lead to cut in plan expenditure.

“Unfortunately, energy is underpriced in our country. Our coal, petroleum products and natural gas are all priced well below international prices. This also means that electricity is effectively underpriced, especially for some consumers.

“Immediate adjustment of prices to close the gap is not feasible, I realise this, but some phased price adjustment is necessary”, Mr Singh said while addressing the 57th meeting of the National Development Council (NDC).

The apex policy-making body NDC, which comprises Cabinet ministers and state chief ministers, was convened to approve the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) which seeks to peg the average annual growth rate at 8 per cent, as against 8.2 per cent proposed earlier.

Drawing attention to the need to control subsidies, Mr Singh said some subsidies were a normal part of any socially just system but they should be well designed and effectively targeted. The total volume must be kept within limits of fiscal sustainability.

“Failure to control subsidies within these limits only means that other plan expenditures have to be cut or the fiscal deficit target exceeded,” he said.

In his address, Mr Singh also referred to the recent gangrape of a 23-year old paramedic student in the capital and said the government would accord high priority to safety and security of women as “there can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population”.