PANJIM: The price of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders has been hiked by Rs 15 with effect from October 6. The hike for the third straight month now pushes the cost of a 14.2 kg cooking gas in Goa to Rs 913.50 from Rs 898.50. LPG cylinder rates have increased by an equal amount in other parts of the country.

The LPG cylinders were earlier hiked by Rs 25 each in September and August. In the last one year from October 2020 to October 2021, the State has seen an increase by Rs 305.50 approx. The cost of the LPG was Rs 608 in October 2020.

While sharp rise in LPG cylinders are burning a hole in one’s pocket, government’s failure to provide subsidy support for over a year, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020, has made the essential commodity unaffordable to many poor and middle class families.

GOACAN Co-ordinator Roland Martins has demanded restoring the subsidy. “The hike in the price of the LPG domestic cylinder has affected the poor and the middle class who were assured a subsidy by the government to tide over the increase. This subsidy which was through DBT Direct Bank Transfer has stopped from May 2020 while the hike is nearly Rs 305 within a year. This subsidy must be restored to the consumers,” he said.