IN 21 DAYS, PETROL COSTLIER BY `10, DIESEL `11 MORE
The price of petrol has gone up by nearly `10 since the daily revision of fuel prices resumed on June 6. A litre of petrol cost `83.44 on Saturday against `73.97 on June 6, an increase of `9.47. The price of diesel was `78.57 on Saturday and `67.82 on June 6, up `10.75.
The gap between the price of petrol and diesel has reduced to `4.87 on Saturday, against `6.15 on June 6.
The diesel price has been increased for 21 days straight, and that of petrol for 20 days.
The steep fall in international oil rates have been offset by steep excise duty hikes by the Centre.
At a time when there have been job losses and salary cuts, the fuel price hikes are not being received well by the people and petroleum dealers community alike. It has severely impacted taxi and autorickshaw drivers.
“Our business and earnings have come down drastically. There are not even 10 per cent of the rides that we used to get before the lockdown. Even in this situation, cab aggregators are not increasing the fare and minting their commission,” complained Sardar Khan, president of the Telangana Minorities Cab Drivers’ Association.
Explaining the numbers, Khan said that out of `1,200 that he would earn, `700 went for fuel and he would be left with
`200 after paying commission to the company. “How can I make ends meet like this,” he asked.
Petroleum dealers said there was nothing in it for them, and the
Covid-19 situation had actually led to a drop to less than 20 per cent of what it was before.
“The sector has been affected severely in terms of sale of petroleum and petroleum products. Fuel is one of the major contributors to the country’s revenue, but all the taxes being collected from these hikes are being utilised by the state and Central governments, presumably for Covid-19 expenses,” said Rajiv Amaran, Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers, joint secretary, Telangana. He added that the drop in sales has resulted in failure to meet electrical expenses or even salaries for employees.