Veerappa Moily hints at petrol price cut.

BANGALORE: Union petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday indicated the UPA government is working on a plan to reduce petrol prices but didn't specify the extent or the timing.

"We are planning for an additional import of 11 million tonnes from Iran and pay them in rupees. This will save us 8.47 billion dollars,'' he said.

Moily said the ministry also is considering reversing a decision that forced state transport utilities and other bulk consumers to pay market price for diesel and ruled out any plan to raise diesel prices for now. "We will positively consider allowing state fleets to purchase diesel at the subsidized price in view of the need to encourage public transport," he said.

As part of his ministry's efforts to conserve fuel, Moily has written to all chief ministers to declare one day in a week as 'Bus Day' when all employees will use public transport. "I have urged all chief ministers, major PSU heads and heads of different central ministries to declare one day of the week as 'Bus Day', where all employees are encouraged to utilize only public transport," he said.

Pact with YSR Cong not ruled out
Union minister M Veerappa Moily did not rule out possibilities of an electoral alliance between his party and YSR Congress of YS Jaganmohan Reddy. "Anything is possible in politics,'' he said when asked specifically if there will be an alliance between the two parties in Andhra Pradesh. Moily's comment assumes significance, as he is part of an AICC committee headed by defence minister A K Antony, which is looking into grievances arising out of the formation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Moily was earlier in-charge of Congress affairs in Andhra.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com