NEW DELHI: A day after an expert group (Kirit Parikh committee) suggested freeing petrol and diesel prices and steep hikes in prices of LPG and kerosene to combat the rising input costs, the government today hinted that it may not accept the report in totality and will protect the common man's interest.

"The government will ensure that least burden is passed on to the poor and common man...while also ensuring that the financial health of (PSU fuel retailers) is protected," Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jitin Prasada said here.

Besides deregulating auto fuel prices, which would result in a hike in petrol price by Rs 4.72 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.33 per litre, the panel also suggested raising LPG price by Rs 100 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs 6 per litre.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Press Trust of India's Diamond Jubilee function here, Prasada said it was the duty of the committee to submit a report on fuel pricing policy, and it is incumbent upon the government to examine it throughly and take a considered view....

"All I can say is (that) consumer interest will be kept in mind when a decision is taken on implementing the report," he said.

State-owned Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum currently lose Rs 180 crore per day on selling petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene below cost. In full fiscal 2009, they are estimated to lose Rs 46,030 crore.

Prasada said a considered view on the Parikh report would be taken but refused to give any timeframe. A government that is battling high inflation may not agree to free both auto fuel prices from control. There might be a moderate Rs 1-2 per litre hike in diesel price while there seems to be a consensus between the ministries of finance and petroleum on freeing petrol prices.

At present, kerosene is sold at a discount of Rs 18.06 per litre and LPG cylinder at Rs 287.59. It appears that while kerosene may be spared from any hike, LPG may see an increase of Rs 20-25 per cylinder.

Budget 2010 may give an indication of the government's mind on the report even though Petroleum Minister Murli Deora had yesterday stated that the report would be 'processed' and presented to the cabinet within a week.