Shimla: National oil companies including Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on August 16 launched five-kg cooking gas cylinders in 12 states as 'Independence Day gift', for which consumers would have to pay about Rs 90 per refill.

Launching IOC's mini cylinders at Shimla, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said, "the concept of five kg cylinder has been developed by my ministry so that liqified petroluem gas (LPG) reaches hilly and rural areas as well as slums in urban areas where the poor reside".

These would be available at a security deposit of Rs 350 a cylinder with distributor's commission at Rs 8 per cylinder, he said, adding, "the cost of a refill cylinder would be around Rs 90 in Shimla. A customer will get a further discount of Rs 4.5 per cylinder on direct delivery from distributor on cash and carry basis".

The cylinders were simultaneously being launched in 42 districts in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Urraranchal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra by IOC, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and IBP Co., he said.

In a bid to reach consumers where distributors could not reach, Bharat Petroluem Company Limited (BPCL) would market these cylinders through rural marketing vehicles, which would refill these in the villages, Naik said.

PTI