The Centre has denied that the Gas Cracker Project has suffered delays claiming that the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymers Limited (BCPL) would start production according to schedule by 2012.

WE ALL know the critical role played by oil and gas in the economic development of a country. Fuels such as PDS kerosene and domestic LPG are essential commodities, next only to food, and impact the life of common man in a major way. Therefore, managing the supplies and prices of sensitive petroleum products is a key policy issue for the government.

Picking on an advertisement issued by the Petroleum Ministry to explain the recent fuel price hike, CPI(M) Politburo member and MP Brinda Karat wrote a letter to Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Tuesday, questioning the Ministry's claim about the Government absorbing a financial burden of over Rs 71,000 crore during the current financial year. "I believe that the claim is not based on facts. In fact, the entire campaign launched by your ministry is misleading,' she said, seeking answers to a five-point questionnaire.

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AFTER several rounds of deliberations on raising auto fuel prices, the government finally decided to bite the bullet. Despite the Left's opposition it has raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2/litre and Re 1/litre, respectively, from February 15. The current price of petrol in Delhi is Rs 45.52/litre (from the earlier price of Rs 43.52/litre) and diesel is Rs 31.76/litre (from Rs 30.48/litre).