The Planning Commission said on Thursday the burden of rising oil prices in the international market will have to be passed on to customers without compromising the interests of the underprivileged.

Expressing concern on the spiraling oil prices, Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, "the only sustainable policy is that while ensuring the needs of the poor, the burden of high oil prices should be passed on to the consumers."

His comments assume significance in view of international crude prices nearing $100 per barrel.

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The interest of the poor can be protected by providing targeted subsidy, Ahluwalia said, adding that increased energy cost would have to be shared by the consumers as the burden is currently being largely borne by public sector oil companies.

Earlier, after the meeting of the Full Planning Commission, Ahluwalia had said that the present policy of insulating consumers from global price rise was not sustainable as it would impair the ability of the government to fund social sector programmes.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too had voiced concern over rising oil and food subsidy bill that is likely to cross Rs 1,00,000 crore (Rs 1,000 billion) during the current financial year.