Consumers will be spared from any hike in petroleum prices in the near future despite global oil prices nearing $100 a barrel with the government on Friday stating that it does not have any proposal to raise domestic fuel prices.

"There is no proposal as of now with the government to increase the domestic petroleum prices," Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

On Thursday, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora informed Parliament that the government under instruction from United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is not proposing any fuel price increase despite crude nearing $100 a barrel mark.

Crude oil prices have risen by almost 50 per cent since the UPA government assumed office, but only a fifth of that has been passed on to the customers. As per official sources, the Indian basket of crude oil averaged $39.21 a barrel in 2004-05 and $71.68 per barrel this fiscal.

To another question, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam said there is no proposal under the consideration of the Government to impose a cess of up to 30 paise per litre on diesel and petrol to create more funds for its Mass Rapid Transport System.

Bansal said stability in petroleum prices at the February 2007 level has contributed to a lower headline inflation. He said the inflation rate based on consumer prices for industrial workers remained higher than that based on wholesale prices index from November 2005.