The Petroleum Ministry has sought cash subsidy of Rs.49,872 crore from the Finance Ministry to compensate state-owned oil companies for selling fuel at government-controlled rates in the January-March quarter.

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation together lost Rs.1.48 lakh crore on selling diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene at rates lower than cost in 2011-12, an Oil Ministry official said here.