The government is considering allowing private firms to sell subsidised domestic cooking gas LPG, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"The proposal of allowing private sector companies in the marketing of subsidised LPG is under the consideration of the government," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Presently, subsidised LPG is being sold to households only by public sector retailing firms -- Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and IBP.

The finance ministry had previously declined to provide subsidy to private firms selling LPG to domestic households.

The government this year is giving a subsidy of less than Rs 3,600 crore (Rs 36 billion) on LPG and kerosene.

To another question, Aiyar said IOC has not objected to private sector Reliance Industries Ltd selling LPG directly to bulk consumers at market rates.

"RIL is free to import LPG for sale to bulk customers as is being done by other parallel marketers. As per the government policy, indigenous LPG production is used entirely for consumption within the country," he said.