With Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora petitioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for restoration of tax breaks for producers of oil and gas, the final call on the issue is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet. A decision is expected before June 30, the last date for submission of bids under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) round VII. Informed sources said that Mr. Deora had written to the Prime Minister last week seeking his intervention to get round Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to restore the tax breaks for oil and gas production failing which it could have a negative impact on NELP VII and investment. Bids for 57 areas are on offer in this round. The Finance Ministry has made it clear that the seven-year tax holiday was only for crude oil production and natural gas producers cannot avail themselves of the benefit. Mr. Deora wrote that the Union Cabinet had in 1997 decided to extend certain fiscal benefits under NELP for exploration and production of oil and gas, the sources said. While the Finance Ministry said the term