At a late night meeting, the government finally mustered courage to take a decision which experts have said was needed. Diesel prices was hiked by Rs 5 though kerosene and petrol prices were not touched. The limit for subsidised LPG was also reduced to 6 per year. Sources said that at the CCPA both Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy and Finance Minister P Chidamabram once again reiterated the need to cut subsidy bills and go in for the hike.
At a time when investment & pension funds might be requested to step up, the investment policy pursued by them might ensure a flight of funds to other assets.
In an atmosphere of mistrust of the government, only an independent safety regulatory mechanism can counter the scaremongering against civilian nuclear power