The current selling price, Rs 100.23, is the 36th time in two months, after an increase of 39 paise in two days. This is a 37% hike since June 2020, when it was priced at Rs 73.28, which is the highest ever increase in fuel prices in a 13-month period.
Diesel, the backbone of commercial vehicles, is currently being sold for Rs 92.50. This, an increase of 41% since June 2020 (when it was priced at Rs 65.61), is an even bigger jump. If this trend continues, it too will cross the Rs 100 mark in the near future, believe fuel station owners.
As a protest, petrol pumps across the state affiliated to the association refrained from selling fuel between 7 pm and 7.30 pm on Wednesday.
“This is a dark day in the history of our city’s petroleum business,” said Snehasis Bhowmick, West’s vice president. Bengal Petroleum Dealers Association
“The cost of fuel has increased by around Rs 30 from last year and as per the information we have, it will continue to rise in the coming days. While petrol pump operators like us get only a nominal commission of Rs 2.80 per liter, most of the money goes towards taxes. We request the Central and State Governments to take immediate steps to control this price rise, which is affecting every citizen.
According to officials of oil marketing companies, fuel prices in the country have been rising almost every other day since last month due to rise in international crude oil prices, which rose sharply in 2021 due to resurgence in global demand across the globe. The economy gradually recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic. the value of brent Crude has risen 47.1% to about $76.20 a barrel from about $51.80 a barrel at the beginning of the year.
source in an oil PSU He said it may take some time for domestic petrol and diesel prices to come down – or until the government calls for lowering fuel taxes. Higher central and state taxes on petrol and diesel are the primary reasons behind the spurt in fuel prices in Bengal. As of Tuesday, the central tax stood at Rs 32.90 (about 63% of the total taxes on petrol in the state), while the state tax was Rs 19.27. Similarly, the central tax on diesel is Rs 31.80 and the state tax is Rs 13.08. On July 6, the base price of petrol in the city was only Rs 44.20 while that of diesel was Rs 45.16. Apart from taxes and base price, the rest of the prices include freight charges and dealers’ commission of around Rs 2.80.
The state government on February 22 reduced taxes on petrol and diesel by Re 1 for four months, which has already been renewed for three months through a notification. The total demand for petrol in the state is around 1.2 lakh kilo liters (KL) per month, while the demand for diesel is around 3 lakh kilolitres.
Motorists were feeling the pinch. Tala Park resident Abhishek Banerjee said, “I can’t believe we can’t even get a liter of petrol for Rs 100 now.” “I bought a car two years back hoping for a comfortable commute to and from the office. But now I am ready to put my car in the garage and return to public transport.” Rising diesel prices have kept many buses and cabs off the roads, even after the Covid-induced restrictions were eased last week. Saikat Das, owner of two private buses, said, “Diesel is rapidly moving towards Rs 100, unless the government increases bus fares, there is no point in running a bus.” Howrah-Pailan way.
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